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Seven Proofs
Herbert W Armstrong
is The Endtime Elijah

The following chapters contain proof that Herbert W Armstrong, and 
o n l y  he  is, was--or could be--the endtime prophet, Elijah.

by Geoffrey R. Neilson

This is an extraordinary claim, but it is The Plain Truth.

No-one else can comply with all the following biblical criteria to be the endtime Elijah. They either come on the scene at the wrong time, or to the wrong audience, with the wrong message, failing to restore what Elijah must--therefore--they have the wrong identity, and cannot be that prophet.

At first glance, the first proof might seem like no proof at all. Anyone can claim to be Elijah. However, the genuine Elijah has to know who he is--and confirm his identity--in order to do his work.

Proof #1: HWA Confirmed he is The Endtime Elijah

"B e h o l d,  I  [G o d]  w i l l  s e n d  y o u  E l i j a h  t h e  p r o p h e t..." (Malachi 4:5)

Ever since Malachi was inspired by God, some 2500 years ago, to predict that Elijah would come before the endtime Day of the LORD's visible intervention in world affairs, various individuals have erroneously claimed to be that prophet.

"...this is the record of John [the Baptist], when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? And he confessed...I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Are you Elias? [that is, "Elijah"]. And he says, I am not...(John 1:19-21).

John the Baptist knew he wasn't the endtime Elijah. If his mission had been to restore all things, Christ's teaching ministry would have been unnecessary. Christ did point out, however, that John the Baptist was a type of the endtime Elijah, in that he paved the way for the First Coming of the Messiah, while the latter-day prophet, (still to come at that stage), would prepare the way for his Second Coming.

Only one person can be the legitimate endtime Elijah. That person has to know his own identity in order to understand and accomplish the mission that God prophesied for him.

Herbert W Armstrong was first called by God in the American Fall or Autumn of 1926. The first day of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere that year was also the first day of the Hebrew civil calendar year; and the first day of the seventh month of the Hebrew religious calendar, or the Feast of Trumpets. That Jewish Calendar Holy Day was the traditional day from which the Kings of Israel and Judah counted the start of their reigns from.

Mr Armstrong's whole vigorous life up till then in the business and advertizing world, had been without his knowledge a preparation for the job God wanted him to do.

Mr Armstrong later obtained genealogical records that he was a descendant through his mother of King David. Therefore, (although he was brought up in the Quaker church) he was unaware until later that he was of Jewish Royal lineage, and a recipient of the Scepter promises made to the House of Judah. The Scepter promise culminates in another of David's descendants, Jesus of Nazareth, becoming the ruler of all 12 Tribes at his Second Coming.

God had his entire Bible canonized at various stages, but always by his two leading leaders of the time. For example, the first five, the most important books of the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament), were authorized as being part of the Bible by Moses--the civil and legislative leader of Israel--and Aaron--the High Priest. The primary books of the New Testament were approved by Peter--the chief Apostle--and John--the Apostle closest to Christ, who received the Revelation of God, the last book of the Bible.

Therefore, it should be expected that the endtime Elijah would come with the highest credentials, from God's point of view. The Apostle Peter had the God-given authority to declare some of the Apostle Paul's writings Holy Scripture during the 1st Century.

"...even as our beloved brother P a u l...according to the wisdom given to him has written to you; As also in  a l l  [ h i s ]  e p i s t l e s, speaking...some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do]  a l s o   t h e  o t h e r  
s c r i p t u r e s,  to their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:15-16).

It is possible the Two Witnesses will declare some of the endtime Elijah's writings Holy Scripture. They are prophesied to come with extraordinary power and authority from God.

Mr Armstrong became a sort of King over the worldwide Church he founded and ruled. Considering all these factors, the most likely date on which God called him, was the Feast of Trumpets, September 9, 1926.

Herbert W Armstrong was born in Des Moines, Iowa--on July 31, 1892--during the middle of the Golden and Diamond Jubilees of Queen Victoria, at the height of the British Empire; and during the time of the 23rd President of the United States of America, Benjamin Harrison.

No one else claiming to be the endtime Elijah could better these, or the other credentials, listed in this book.

He died during the tenure of the 40th President (Ronald Reagan), on January 16, 1986.

From early in his ministry, Herbert W Armstrong proclaimed that the comprehensive t r u e G o s p e l of the coming literal Kingdom of God on Earth,  h a d  n o t  b e e n   p r e a c h e d  f o r  1 9 0 0  y e a r s  until he restored it!

T h a t   b o l d  s t a t e m e n t  w a s  a l s o  a  s u b t l e  w a y  o f  a n n o u n c i n g  t o  I s r a e l  a n d  t h e  w o r l d, 
t h a t   H e r b e r t  W  A r m s t r o n g  i s  t h e  e n d t i m e  E l i j a h !

Few of his disciples even, grasped the significance of that statement, although he repeated it many times, to countless millions in his worldwide audience, during his 55-year-long ministry, (from 1931 to 1986).

Interestingly, 55 is the numerical value of the name "Elias", the Greek translation of "Elijah" in the New Testament. Mr Armstrong was also 55 when he started Ambassador College.

"...Jesus...said...Elias [(the endtime) Elijah] truly shall first come, and restore all things" (Matthew 17:11).

That implied there would be a huge Falling Away from the teachings of Jesus and his Apostles, sometime after his death--which would only be revitalized when Elijah came in the endtime.

That is a clear, plain, Bible truth, which has been understood by few.

Christ's statement also shows that until Elijah comes in the endtime with his major Restoration of Truth, the general state of religious affairs in Israel would be in a state of ruin, in God's eyes. Substitute the name Israel for the list of nations at the end of The article identifying the Tribes of Israel today., and you have an idea of how extensive the problem is.

The New Testament itself is a record of the progressive infiltration into the Church of heresies and heretics. After the four Gospel accounts of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, and the Acts of the Apostles, the epistles of the Apostles were largely written to address problems in various congregations of the 1st Century Church.

By the time the longest standing Apostle, John, wrote his epistles--near the end of that century--it was necessary to warn the Church: "Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son. If there come any to you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed" (2 John 9-10).

Things had come to the point where genuine members were being thrown out of the true Church by heretics: "I wrote to the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, receives us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and forbids them that would, and casts [them] out of the church" (3 John 9-10).

If Elijah hasn't yet come, all churches or other organizations claiming to represent God today, are in a state of doctrinal disrepair--until Elijah does come and restore all things.

"But I say to you, That [Elijah] is come already, and they [recognized] him not..." (Matthew 17:12)

Since Christ stated that the true Church would never die out, its various eras would have to retain an understanding of the key doctrines necessary for salvation. However, it could not retain the comprehensive body of Truth, since Elijah was to restore "all things". Mr Armstrong understood this to mean that Elijah would primarily restore, and preach, the full disclosure of God's 7000-year Plan for Mankind; see that the Government of God was restored in the true Church; and proclaim that it would be restored in Jerusalem when the Messiah arrived. He did all these things.

Herbert W Armstrong did more than an Elijah-like Work, he was (and is) the endtime Elijah.

In his Autobiography (Vol 1, page 437, printed 1973), Mr Armstrong wrote: "...July 9 [1933]...meetings at the Firbutte School...[were] the small...s t a r t of [the] Work reaching millions...I spoke on prophecy". 27 people attended the first night, which started a six-week campaign that averaged 36 people.

"...God committed to me in July, 1933, Christ's great commission--to take Christ's gospel announcement to the whole world for a witness to all nations" (The Autobiography of Herbert W Armstrong, Vol 2, page 586, hardcover, quoting his own Member letter of May 16, 1977).

These are the words of a man who understood his calling and global mission as Elijah, and fulfilled it.

The Radio Church of God, which Mr Armstrong raised--as the sixth, or Philadephian era of the true Church, was incorporated on October 21, 1933. Revelation 2 and 3 contain messages to seven literal congregations of the 1st Century, New Testament Church, which were located on a mail route in Asia Minor. Those messages, Mr Armstrong explained, are also prophecies of the seven eras of the Church from its inception up to the endtime.

Mr Armstrong had located remnants of the fifth era, to which Christ gave this message: "...to the angel of the church in Sardis write;...I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead...I have not found your works perfect before God...You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; ...they are worthy" (Revelation 1-6).

This was precisely the condition of the Church of God Mr Armstrong found. By contrast, the sixth era he started, was given this message by Christ:

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens; I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are [spiritual] Jews [that is, true Christians] and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have that no man take your crown. Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 3:7-13).

In other words, the sixth era was to be towards the end of the 6000 years which God allotted for man's rule, under Satan, on Earth. A time when God opens the door for the Church to do a great Work. The great Work prophesied to occur in the latter days was that of Elijah the prophet's Restoration of All Things. That precisely describes the Work Herbert W Armstrong did, and claimed to do.

By contrast, the seventh era of the true Church of God, was to be characterized by a great Falling Away from the standard set by the Philadelphian era. That is exactly what happened to the Worldwide Church of God after Mr Armstrong's death in 1986. On May 9, 1997 it officially became a Protestant organization, completely repudiating the Restoration of Mr Armstrong, the endtime Elijah.

The leadership of the new Worldwide Church of God, introduced so many heresies that that organization can no longer be identified as a legitimate Church of God, even if some of its members still associate with its original tenets, to one degree or another. They also influenced many now no longer in its fellowship, to lower their standards, and become part of the spiritual body of people Christ calls "Laodicean". The message of Christ to the seventh era is strikingly relevant to what happened to the Church after Mr Armstrong's death:

"...to...the church of the Laodiceans write...I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot...because you are lukewarm...I will spue you out of my mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that y o u  a r e 
w r e t c h e d,  a n d  m i s e r a b l e,  a n d  p o o r,  a n d  b l i n d,  a n d  n a k e d:

"...As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 3:14-22).

Christ pictures himself as standing outside the door of this Church--not within their fellowship--unless they individually repent, and let him back in.

The pattern of prophesied events is clear. After Jesus and the Apostles proclaimed the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God on Earth, there was a 1st Century falling away from truth. The Church would continue but be small and scattered until the endtime, when Elijah the prophet would restore all things. After his ministry would come the great endtime Falling Away from what Elijah restored. That is precisely the pattern history has taken.

This indicates we are very late in the prophesied scheme of events leading to The Great Tribulation, the Day of the LORD, and the Messiah's appearance.

K N O W I N G  W H O  T H E  E N D T I M E  E L I J A H  I S,  I S  A  M A J O R  S I G N  of  W H E R E  W E  A R E  I N
T H E  T I M E T A B L E  O F  B I B L E  P R O P H E C Y !

In Jerusalem, on May 15, 1985--the 37th Roman Calendar Anniversary of the State of Israel, Herbert W Armstrong finished his magnum opus, "Mystery of the Ages". The book was published later that year around the Feast of Trumpets, that autumn, on which Holy Day he gave his last sermon. It was a very clear oral testimony from the 93-and-a-half year old patriarch, which summarized important prophecies he’d made about the coming Kingdom of God.

This is a further indication that Mr Armstrong was the endtime Elijah, since it was a tradition among the patriarchs of Israel to give an  o r a l  p r o p h e c y shortly before they died.

Jacob (Genesis 49); Moses (all of the Book of Deuteronomy, see especially Chapter 33); Joshua (Joshua 24); David (1 Kings 2:1-9); and Jesus of Nazareth (John 13 to 17); all gave such o r a l  p r o p h e c i e s shortly before their death.

In "Mystery of the Ages", completed near the end of his long life, Herbert W Armstrong clearly identified himself as the endtime Elijah, as these extracts (from pages 9-10 and 139-140) show:

"We now live in the era biblical prophecy calls the last days--the last generation before the coming of Christ to rule and accomplish on earth what mankind should have done. In these last days, according to biblical prophecy, knowledge, spiritual as well as material, was to be increased. The true Church of God was to be set back on the track, restoring the glorious apostles".

"In the book of Isaiah is a 'NOW' prophecy: 'The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord...lift up your voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say...Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: and his work before him' (Isa 40:3,9-10)".

"That voice now cries out!"

"The prophet Malachi confirmed this: 'Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold he shall come says the Lord of hosts' (Mal 3:1)".

"T h e   E l i j a h   t o   c o m e" [Mr Armstrong's own section heading]

"Both of these prophecies have a dual application. First, they refer to John the Baptist, who prepared the way before Jesus' human ministry more than 1900 years ago. BUT, as a prototype, or forerunner, these prophecies foretell one to prepare the way before Christ's Second Coming as king of kings and Lord of lords to RULE over ALL NATIONS!"

"Malachi's prophecy, like Isaiah's, if you will read on past the first verse, refers to a human messenger preparing the way before Christ's now imminent Second Coming, this time in supreme POWER AND GLORY as Ruler over all nations!"

"Understand the duality principle here. These prophecies refer to a type and its fulfillment."

"John the Baptist was a voice crying out in the physical wildereness of the Jordan River area, preparing for the human physical Jesus' First Coming to a material temple at Jerusalem, to a physical Judah.

But that was a prototype, or forerunner of a voice 'lifted up' (greatly amplified by modern printing, radio and TV), crying out in the midst of today's spiritual wilderness of religious confusion, announcing the imminence of Christ's Second Coming as the spiritually GLORIFIED Christ, to his spiritual temple (the Church resurrected to spirit immortality. Eph 2:21-22)".

"Jesus came, over 1900 years ago, to announce the FUTURE kingdom of God. He's coming this time to ESTABLISH that kingdom. That endtime last warning message is now going out worldwide in amplified power".

"It's going before kings, emperors, presidents, prime ministers of nations--and to their peoples, on all continents and all nations of the earth!"

Since Mr Armstrong was doing all these things, in the context of his book, it is clear that he identifies himself as the prophesied-to-come endtime Elijah. This is confirmed in the next extract from pages 348-349 of "Mystery of the Ages" under the section heading:

"E l i j a h   t o   C o m e   i n   O u r   D a y". [Mr Armstrong's own section heading]

"Remember, once again, God's principle of duality. As Jesus said in Matthew, the prophecy of Malachi 3:1 applied to John the Baptist in type; but if you will continue reading through verse 5, it becomes very clear that the prophecy is speaking of one to prepare the way before the Second Coming of Christ. John the Baptist was a voice crying out in the physical wilderness of the Jordan River, preparing the way for the First Coming of Christ, as a physical human being, to his physical Temple at Jerusalem and to the physical people of Judah, announcing the advance good news that the kingdom of God would in the future be established. But also preparing the way before his Second Coming was a messenger of whom Elijah was a type. A voice crying out in the worldwide spiritual wilderness of religious confusion, preparing the way for the spiritual glorified King of kings and Lord of lords to come in the supreme power and glory of God to his spiritual temple, the Church (Eph 2:21), to actually establish the kingdom of God".

"Further, in Matthew 17:1-8, Peter, James and John saw the vision of Moses, Elijah and Christ glorified in the kingdom of God. Then in verse 10 the disciples asked Jesus, 'Why then say the scribes that Elias [Elijah] must first come?' Remember John the Baptist had finished his ministry and had been imprisoned before Jesus even begun his ministry. At the time the disciples asked this question, John the Baptist had come and been put to death. Yet Jesus answered, speaking of the yet future, '[Elijah] truly shall first come, and restore all things' (verse 11)".

"This could not possibly refer to John the Baptist. John the Baptist restored nothing, but called on people to repent in preparation for the First Coming of Jesus as a physical human".

"In the first few years of the New Testament Church, Jesus' true gospel had been suppressed and supplanted with a false gospel--not the gospel of Christ (the kingdom of God) but man's false gospel about a Christ who did away with his Father's commandments".

"Also Malachi 4:5-6 pictures the Elijah to come at the very end of the Church age--at a time when, if this endtime message were not proclaimed, the glorified Christ would come and smite the world with total destruction. (The word  c u r s e  in this verse is translated from the Hebrew, which in Moffatt's translation is given the meaning total destruction)".

Mr Armstrong obviously referred to himself in the above description, humbly acknowledging he was the endtime Elijah. He, and other ministers supporting him, had often said he was doing "an Elijah-like Work".

He further stated in "Mystery of the Ages" under the section heading

"E d u c a t i o n   i n   t h e   W o r l d   T o m o r r o w":

"This Headquarters Church, at Christ's own world capital of Jerusalem, then, undoubtedly will be given the administration of the world's new system of education".

"Also the indication is that the teaching of spiritual truth--of the true gospel, the spiritual conversion of the world--will be directed, worldwide, from this Headquarters Church, under Elijah and the overall direct supervision of Jesus Christ" (page 349).

If you carefully read Mr Armstrong's explanation above, along with Matthew 17, it is clear that both Jesus and Mr Armstrong, refer to the
e n d t i m e  Elijah in the Transfiguration vision.

After seeing the vision of the future kingdom of God--with Christ, Moses, and Elijah resurrected in it during the Millennium--the three leading Apostles, Peter, James, and John, asked Jesus why the scribes taught that Elijah must come before then.

At the time the vision was seen, both the original Elijah, and John the Baptist, had finished their Work, and were dead. Jesus said  a   f u t u r e  E l i j a h,  of whom these two men were prototypes, would come to restore true worship in the endtime.

Herbert W Armstrong acknowledged he was that endtime Elijah, by his words and deeds.

Neither the original Elijah, nor John the Baptist, had the opportunity to be in charge of a worldwide Church and worldwide educational headquarters, during their lifetime--as Mr Armstrong was. Jesus instructed his chief disciples, "Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead" (verse 9). It's application was not relevant to the time of the original Elijah, nor John the Baptist.

The Elijah seen in the vision was the one who would restore all things in the endtime!

Therefore, in the vision in Matthew 17, since the Elijah seen was the endtime one, the disciples must have seen Christ and Moses speaking with Herbert W Armstrong!

Some might ask how God could know what Mr Armstrong would look like 1900 years before he was born. "...Jesus...said...with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).

Thus, the Elijah who will be in charge of "the teaching of spiritual truth--of the true gospel, the spiritual conversion of the world...directed, worldwide, from...[the Jerusalem] Headquarters Church...[will be Herbert W Armstrong, under]...the overall direct supervision of Jesus Christ".

The Elijah in the vision could not have been the original Elijah. He died before the Church started--and thus could not restore the truth that departed after the 1st Century falling away. The same is true of John the Baptist. They were both prototypes of what the endtime Elijah would be like.

No-one else in the last 6000 years has had more experience and success in preaching the true Gospel worldwide than Herbert W Armstrong. Why would God choose someone of less achievement to accomplish the even greater future assignment during the Millennium? The original Elijah and John the Baptist hardly travelled anywhere. They had no idea of the global population to be reached in our day, nor the kind of global communication necessary to do so. Something Mr Armstrong pioneered the use of in preaching the kingdom of God worldwide. They are more likely to be his assistants than vice-versa. It appears to this author that the first Elijah shall be last, and the last Elijah first, of the three Elijahs.

Note also that in Malachi 4:4 which concerns the endtime Elijah, he is linked with Moses and the LORD of the Old Testament (who later came in the flesh as Jesus Christ).

These are the three figures in the vision of Matthew 17. Moses represented the legislative and judicial arm of the Government of God, which will administer the Law of God in the kingdom of God. Elijah represented the spiritual education arm of that Government, which will teach the Law of God, in conjunction with Moses. Christ is the Ruler-to-be overall in the millennial kingdom of God.

Jesus said "Not...any man has seen the Father..."(John 6:46). Yet Moses saw the back of the LORD, showing he was not God the Father. Ancient Israel "...drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4). The one who became Christ was the member of the God Family who dealt with Moses and ancient Israel, and who will do so again as Messiah, at his Second Coming.

Even he was not officially recognized for who he was by his own people, the Tribe of Judah, when he came to them in the 1^st Century. Nor was John the Baptist officially recognized as a forerunner of the endtime Elijah. Little wonder that so few have recognized the endtime Elijah in our day.

Up until the time of John the Baptist, Jesus said no greater person had lived than John. That means that John the Baptist was greater than the original Elijah. Since the endtime Elijah achieved far more than both of them, it seems that statement is also there to show how great God considers the endtime Elijah.

Every member in the last two eras (of this important endtime), came into the Church as a direct, or indirect, result of the ministry of Herbert W Armstrong. During the Tribulation, Israel will know there has been a prophet among them, and some will repent as a result. It will either be as a result of the ministry of the Two Witnesses, who surely must refer to the endtime Elijah's over 50-year warning to the Tribes of Israel--or as a result of what Chapter 10 shows is possible. Israel's failure to heed Elijah’s warning is the reason she is going into Tribulation.

In the resurrection beyond the Millennium, all those many world leaders Mr Armstrong proclaimed the Gospel to before his death, will be astonished to see him as a resurrected, glorified, 1000-year old then, immortal member of the ruling Government of God. Repentance will come easy to them. And they will positively influence millions of their former subjects to follow the same path.

THE PLAIN TRUTH IS THAT HERBERT W ARMSTRONG PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE WAS THE ENDTIME ELIJAH, IN VARIOUS WAYS AND OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THE BOOK (from which these chapters are adapted) SHOWS THAT HE IS THE LEGITIMATE BEARER OF THAT TITLE.

The combined total of converts which will eventually be ascribed, directly or indirectly to the ministry of the endtime Elijah, will exceed that of possibly anyone. And therefore, the final evaluation of God is more than likely to be, that the endtime Elijah was greater than even his prototype, John the Baptist.

THE GENEALOGY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Adam--m--Eve
Seth
Enos
Cainan
Mahalaleel
Jared
Enoch
Methuselah
Lamech
Noah
Shem
(Genesis 5:1-32)
Eber (from which the name "Hebrew" is derived).
Terah
Abraham--m--Sarah
Isaac--m--Rebekah
Jacob renamed Israel by God--m--Leah (first wife), from whom came:
Judah
(forefather of the Jewish of the 12 Tribes of Israel.  "The Scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from
between his feet, until Shiloh [meaning the Messiah] come; and to him [shall] the gathering of the people [be]" (Genesis 49:10). The
most important line of Royalty lasting until Messiah comes, is by definition Jewish. Its prophesied unbroken line had to continue
after Israel and Judah were taken captive, outside the Promised Land!]
Zarah (descendants shown later) & twin brother:
Pharez (descendants shown below; See Genesis 38:27-30).
Ezrom
Aram
Aminadab
Nashon
Salmon
Boaz--m--Ruth (See the Book of Ruth).
Obed
Jesse
King David (of Judah and all of Israel, 1 Kings 2:11).
King Solomon (of Judah and all of Israel, 1 Kings 2:12).
Rehoboam, (Solomon's son.  Became King of Judah and Benjamin after the 10 northern Tribes of Israel split off. The history of the two lines of
Kings are found in the Bible's books Kings and Chronicles.  (See 2 Chronicles 9:31-16; 1 Kings 11:1-14:31).
Abijam
(1 Kings 15:1-8).
Asa
(2 Chronicles 14:1 to 16:14).
Jehosophat
(2 Chronicles 17:1 to 21:4).
Jehoram
The original Elijah wrote him a prophetic letter long after the prophet was taken away by a whirlwind.  (2 Chronicles 21:4-20).
Ahaziah
(2 Chronicles 22:1-9).
Athaliah
(2 Chronicles 22:10-12).
Joash
(2 Chronicles 24:1-27).
Amaziah.  In his day, "Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent"--showing they weren't the same Tribes
(2 Chronicles 25:1-28).
Uzziah (Azariah)
(2 Chronicles 26:1-23).
Jotham
2 Chronicles (27:1-9).
Abaz
(2 Chroncicles 28:1-27).
Hezekiah
(2 Chronicles 29:1-32:33).
Manasseh
(2 Chronicles 33:1-20).
Amon
(2 Chronicles 33;21-25).
Josiah
(2 Chronicles 34:1-37.
Jehoahaz
(2 Chronicles 36:1-4).
Jehoiakim
(2 Chronicles 5-8).
Jehoiachin
(2 Chronicles 36:9-10).
Zedekiah.  The King of Judah when Nebuchadnezzar took that Tribe captive to Babylon, (2 Chronicles 36:11-14; Jeremiah 52).

Tea Tephi
Daughter of King Zedekiah taken to Ireland bythe prophet Jeremiah.

Married Eochaidh (the Heremon),
a descendant of Judah's other twin son Zarah
(Genesis 30:27-30)--ancestor of the Ancient Irish Kings--via Mahol (1 Kings 4:31); and Calcol:
(1 Chronicles 2:6), called Cecrops in Tottens Old Irish Genealogies).

From Tephi and Eochaidh came the Kings of Ireland and Scotland
The Scottish line (of David) continuing to Queen Elizabeth II is:

Fiachra
Fergus I
Manius
Dornadil
Reuthar
Edars (in time of Christ's birth)
Conaire the Great
Corbred I
Corbred II
Modha Lamha
Conaire II
Corbred Dalraida
Eochaidh
Athirco
Findachar
Thrinklind
Fincormach
Romaich
Angus
Eochaidh
Erc
Fergus the Great
Dongard
Govran
Adan
Eugene
Donald
Ethach
Ethdre
Ethafind
Ethas
Alpin
KENNETH MACALPIN
Constantine
Donald VI
Malcolm
Kenneth II
Malcolm II
Beatrix
Duncan
Malcolm Canmore--m--St. Margaret

(After this the line also goes through King Edward I, and to
Herbert W Armstrong as shown below in the list after Queen Elizabeth's genealogy).

David
Henry
Isabel  (Married Gwaltor Rt. Bruce (also descended from Kenneth MacAlpin).
Robert
Robert
Robert the Bruce
Marjory  (Married Walter Stewart (also descended from Kenneth MacAplin).
Robert II
Robert III
James I
James II
James III
James IV
Mary, Queen of Scots
James VI & I
   (Union of England Scotland 1707)
Princess Elizabeth Stewart
Princess Sophia
George I
George II
Prince Federick of Wales
George III
Edward Duke of Kent
Queen Victoria---m--Prince Albert
King Edward VII--m--Queen Alexandra (who comes from the Zarah
  line of Judah--ancestor of the Ancient Irish Kings, via Mahol:
  1Kings 4:31; and Calcol: 1 Chronicles 2:6--called Cecrops in Tottens Old Irish Genealogies).

King George V--m--Queen Mary

George VI

QUEEN ELIZABETH II

THE GENEALOGY OF HERBERT W ARMSTRONG

Mr Herbert W Armstrong stated in his Autobiography (Vol 1, p11, hardcover):
"My ancestry, through a paternal great-grandmother, traces back to Edward I King of England".

The breach between the brothers Pharez and Zarah shown above, was healed with the marriage of Eochaidh the Heremon and Tea Tephi about 580 BC, from whom came the Kings of Ireland and Scotland, and subsequently of England).

EDWARD I (born 17 Jun 1239, died 7 Jul 1307). He was King of
England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, (and the Isle of Man from
1290). Crowned in Westminster Abbey, 18 Aug 1274. The 16th
Century inscription on his tomb is "Hammer of the Scots". Also
called The Lawgiver. Of the House of Plantagenet. The first truly
English King, Edward was a masterful ruler, great legislator, and
military genius. He created the title Prince of Wales, which
Prince Charles now carries. Edward I brought the Stone of
Scone to Westminster Abbey and was throned sitting over it.

(See "Kings and Queens" by Lambert & Gray ISBN 0 00 458954 8
the list of Kings is based on the chart
"The Heritage of the Anglo-Saxon Race", The Covenant Publishing Co. Ltd, London).

According to writer and minister in the original Worldwide Church of God, Robert C. Boraker, Herbert W Armstrong’s paternal great-grandmother was Elizabeth Cope. “He [Mr Armstrong] once said that the Cope Foundation had sent him an ancestral chart that traced his ancestry from Elizabeth Cope back to King Edward I. That lineage was given in the 1983 Feast film, "Behind the Work." I copied it from the video and added details as follows*:

Kenneth MacAlpin

Constantine

Donald

Malcolm

Kenneth

Malcolm

Beatrix

Duncan

Malcolm Canmore--m--St Margaret

Empress Matilda (daughter of King Henry,married Geoffrey IV Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, of

the Angevin Dynsasty. Also called the House of Plantagenet, and the House of Anjou).

Henry II of England
John

Henry III

Edward I, King of England--m--Eleanor of Castille (first wife, 1246-1290)

v

Princess Joan Plantagenet--m--Sir Gilbert De Clare

(Joan was the most important of the children of Edward I and his beloved wife Eleanor)

v

Lady Margaret De Clare--m--Hugh De Audley

v

Margaret De Audley--m-- Sir Ralph De Stafford, Earl of Stafford

v

Margaret Stafford--m--Sir John Stafford of Bramshall

v

Sir Ralph Stafford of Grafton--m--Maud Hastings

v

Sir Humphrey Stafford of Grafton, 1384-1419--m--Elizabeth Bindette

v

Sir Humphrey Stafford of Grafton, living 1467--m--Eleanor Aylesbury

v

Sir Humphrey Stafford of Grafton, executed in 1486--m--Catherine Fray

v

Sir Humphrey Stafford--m--Margaret Tame

v

Anne Stafford, living 1613--m--Sir Anthony COPE

v

Edward Cope of Brixton, living 1613--m--Maud

v

John Cope of Marden, Wilts.--m--Margaret

v

John Cope, d. 1649--m--Elizabeth

v

Oliver Cope of Avebury, Wilts.--m--Rebecca (came to Pennsylvania in 1683 having

received a grant of land from William Penn at "Backington", Naaman's Creek).

v

John Cope, 1691-1773, of East Bradford, Chester Co., PA--m--Charity Jefferries

v

John Cope,1730-1812,--m--(2) Mary Dickinson

v

Jesse (Joshua) Cope--m--Margaret Dixon

v

Elizabeth Cope--m--Samuel ARMSTRONG

v

Nathan H. Armstrong--m--Lydia HOLE daughter of Elon Hole

v

Horace Elon Armstrong--m--Eva WRIGHT (HWA’s mother)

v

HERBERT W ARMSTRONG

--m--

Loma Isabella Dillon

v

Garner Ted Armstrong

(the fourth of four children).

Most of the above details are verified in the book, "Living Descendants of Blood Royal" by Count D'Angerville, Vol.3, pp. 172-173, published by World Nobility and Peerage, London and Paris, 1964. Mr. Armstrong once said he did not have a middle name to begin with. But since there was another Herbert Armstrong in Oregon, he added the "W" which he took from the family surname of WRIGHT”.

*[connecting “v”arrow links and italicized entries inserted by GRN. Also see The Royal House of Britain an Enduring Dynasty by Milner, Covenant Publishing, London, which confirms the Elizabeth II and Edward I’s genealogies)}.

THE HEALING OF THE BREACH THROUGH THREE OVERTURNS

While he was not original in doing this, Herbert W Armstrong agreed with the truth that the Royal line of Kings God gave to Judah would be overturned three times.

"And you, profane wicked prince of Israel [Zedekiah], whose day is come, when iniquity [shall have] an end, Thus says the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this [shall] not [be] the same: exalt [him that is] low, and abase [him that is] high. I will OVERTURN, OVERTURN, OVERTURN, it: and it shall be no [more], until he come whose right it is; and I will give it [to him, the Messiah]" (Ezekiel 21:25-27).

The first overturn was when the wicked Zedekiah of David's dynasty had the crown removed from him, and he died in captivity in Babylon.

Ezekiel 17 shows in allegorical language that a daughter of King Zedekiah of Judah would be planted in the highest branch of Israel. "And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree [Judah], have exalted the low tree [Israel, which had gone into captivity earlier], have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done [it]" (Ezekiel 17:24).

Israel had remained without a king many years (Hosea 3:4).

"Also I (God) will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning" (1 Chronicles 17:9). Jeremiah the prophet was commissioned to do the planting.

According to tradition, Jeremiah planted the Royal Dynasty of David's dynasty in Ireland around 569BC bringing the lia-fail stone (or Jacob's pillar-stone, also called the Stone of Scone, on which British Kings were crowned); which was overturned and planted in Scotland; then overturned and planted in England, where today Queen Elizabeth II continues the dynasty.

The Tribe of Judah's Pharez-David-Zedekiah line possessed the Scepter, and would remain on the throne until the Messiah comes. The Tribe of Judah's Zarah line nevertheless believed the right to the Scepter was theirs. The breach was healed when Eochaidh (The Heremon)--of the Zarah line, married Tea Tephi of the Pharez line--from which the Kings of Ireland and Scotland come.

There is no doubt that Herbert W Armstrong is an important person of Royal descent in God’s sight.

Proof #2: HWA Operated At The Time of The Endtime Elijah

“...I  [God]  w i l l  s e n d  y o u  E l i j a h  t h e  p r o p h e t
b e f o r e  t h e  c o m i n g  o f  t h e
g r e a t  a n d  d r e a d f u l  d a y  o f  t h e  L O R D"  (Malachi 4:5).

The "dreadful Day of the LORD" does not refer to a bad Sunday. Jesus said he was the Lord of the real, Friday-sunset to Saturday-sunset, weekly Sabbath (Luke 6:5). However, the expression refers not to the weekly Sabbath, but to the time of God's wrath, and visible intervention in the affairs of mankind, which follows and cuts short The Great Tribulation.

The Tribulation is Satan's wrath directed against the nations of Israel listed at the end of The article identifying the Tribes of Israel today.--but primarily against Anglo-Saxon Americans, the English, and Jews.

The Day of the LORD is the period in which God punishes the unrepentant, begins to rescue Israel, and demonstrates his supreme power.

"For the day of the LORD [is] near upon all the heathen: as you have done [to Israel], it shall be done to you: your reward shall return upon your own head...But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob [Israel] shall possess their possessions" (Obadiah 1:15,17).

God promised to send Elijah b e f o r e the Day of the LORD, in what the Bible calls  "t h e   e n d t i m e".  This further rules out John the Baptist, or Jesus, as being that prophet, since they appeared too early.

H o w   c a n   w e   k n o w   i f   t h i s   i s   T h e   E n d t i m e ?

If we are living in the age Bible prophecy calls "the time of the end", there ought to be evidence to that effect.

Many ministers, church goers, and skeptics say we can't know if this is that endtime. As Jeremiah predicted:

"...the stork in the heaven knows her  a p p o i n t e d  t i m e s ; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe        t h e  t i m e  of their coming; but my people know not the [t i m e of the] judgment of the LORD" (Jeremiah 8:7).

Satan knows his time is short (Revelation 12:12), but Christ hasn't a clue when he is coming back, and neither do you, is what many are saying, in effect.

While no-one knows the precise day of the appearance of the Messiah, there are guidelines in Scripture to the general time; and at the very end, a 1335-day countdown to Christ's Second Coming.

The idea that Christians can't have a clue when Christ is coming until the day he arrives, ignores many Scriptures.

They'd have to fail to notice the rise of The Two Witnesses, The Beast and False Prophet, The Tribulation, The Heavenly Signs and the incredible Day of The LORD. And be unable to count 1260 days, 1290, or 1335 days.

These most momentous events in history will escape the understanding of the vast majority of mankind, but not the wise.

In his day, Herbert W Armstrong clearly demonstrated we are living in the endtime. We are closer to the end now, than we ever were in his lifetime.

The major Bible signs of the endtime are clear. We don't have to guess about them.

The prophet Daniel was told to seal the meaning of the book he wrote until the time of the end; when many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase (Daniel 12:4).

Have there ever been so many millions of cars; long-distance buses; high-speed trains; numerous ocean-going vessels; aircraft of every description; rockets that have taken men to the moon; space shuttles; even an international space station in orbit? Has there ever been a previous time in human history when more running to and fro has been possible?

Any decent history book will tell you there was nothing like this in the past.

This alone shows we are in the unprecedented time of the end.

With international access to radio, television, satellite communications, computers, the internet, books, newspapers, magazines, CD's, DVD's, home and cellphones, movies, the Hubble telescope plus other space exploration; and numerous facilities for education and scientific research--has there ever been a previous time in human history when it was possible for knowledge to increase so rapidly and so widely as in this information age?

Have there ever been so many translations, and aids to understanding the Bible as there are now? Has the Bible ever been so widely distributed worldwide?

The answer has to be "no". We live in the unique endtime.

Mr Armstrong was an eye-witness of the world changing from the days of horse and carriage to the complex endtime scientific age.

The 12th chapter of the Book of Daniel predicted that at "the time of the end", there would come "a time of trouble; such as never was since there was a nation".

Jesus of Nazareth prophesied that: "...except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved [alive]..."(Matthew 24:22).

There ever been a time in world history prior to the 20^th Century development of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons--with the means to deliver them anywhere on Earth--when humankind could have utterly destroyed itself.

The Encyclopedia Britannica shows that mankind first had the power to destroy itself from 1955. About 40 years later, Saddam Hussein alone has been claimed to have had enough weapons to kill every person on earth!

In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, the Apostle Paul predicted "...in the last days [before the Messiah appears] perilous times will come"--and outlined what it will be like:

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away".

This describes many in our present society? Another indication that we are in the last days.

The criminals are no longer just in prison now. They're in government, in big business, in sport, in religion, in the police force, in every facet of society.

Christ foretold in Matthew 24 that in the endtime it would be "as in the days before the flood...[when] Noah entered the ark..." [when, as Genesis 6:5 records] "the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually".

The sins, which the Bible calls "works of the flesh" (described in Galatians 5:19-22) are widespread today:

Adultery, fornication, homosexuality, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousy, lust, greed, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, heresy, envy drunkenness, revelries and murder.

We are living in days like those of Noah, which were prophesied to come again only in the endtime.

Have a look at Matthew 24 in your own Bible. This is Christ's famous prophecy about the endtime.

In verse 3, the disciples asked three questions.

--WHEN will these things be?

--What will be the sign of your Coming?

--And of the end of the age?

Christ warned about religious deception, wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

In Verses 6 to 8 of Matthew 24 Christ said these things were not THE END--but were A SIGN of the BEGINNING of sorrows.

There have always been such disasters. So how does Christ's reference to them have significance? It can only be that they are signs because their frequency and intensity increases in the latter days indicating The Tribulation is near.

Verse 9: "THEN"--after many wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences--of great magnitude...THEN they will deliver you up to Tribulation"--the time the real trouble begins.

Verse 14: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and THEN the END will come."

Herbert W Armstrong has already preached the Gospel worldwide.

However, the Two Witnesses still have to also preach the Gospel to the whole world. Their ministry only terminates at the end of their 1260 Days--shortly before THE END--in the sense that Christ's Second Coming terminates man's allotted 6000 years to rule himself under the sway of Satan.

In Matthew 24, Verse 15 Christ further pinpoints the time factor and the final sign just prior to The Tribulation:

"WHEN...[that involves TIME] you see the Abomination of Desolation..." [that involves seeing a SIGN]--"THEN let those in Judea flee..." Judea is the territory presently called the State of Israel.

Now notice how the signs have intensified in our day leading up to The Tribulation.

In Verse 7 Christ predicted: "nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom..."

The first two World Wars in history--are estimated to have killed 74,000,00--and wounded countless more. The 20th Century also witnessed numerous other conflicts, including the Korean War, Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf War.

Since it has never been possible to have so many wars, with so many never before known terrible weapons, this must be the endtime--leading up to The Great Tribulation--which Christ predicted.

Christ also predicted notable "famines" would precede The Tribulation. According to "The Guinness Book of Records 1997", the worst famine [in the 20th Century] killed about 40 million people in northern China..."

A decade before the end of the 20th Century, "The Earth Report" from London noted:

"For the first time in human history we are witnessing famine on a continental scale, with two-thirds of African countries affected. Within a few years [famine] will...become a global and a chronic problem...[because of] unfavorable climatic conditions...the population explosion...low-yielding traditional agriculture...and poverty..."

2002 saw Africa faced with widespread famine and expected famine.

Since famine is a natural consequence of war--of which there have never been greater ones until now; of upset weather patterns (such as the unrivalled El Nino brings about); and of a population explosion--which could never have been greater; how can we be living in any other but the noteworthy time of unprecedented endtime events involving and leading to the famines, which Christ predicted?

Christ also forecast that "pestilences"--or disease epidemics would be widespread in the latter days just before The Tribulation (verse 7).

AIDS was unknown before the last half of the 20th Century. By the start of 1999, more than 30,000,000 people were infected by it. AIDS, however, is but one of numerous ailments confronting mankind now.

Scientists warn that antibiotics are fast becoming ineffective.

It has never been possible to so quickly spread disease epidemics throughout the world as it is now--with our unrivalled in any previous era--means of rapid transport.

Never until the 20th Century have there been disastrous oil spills; chemical leaks; nuclear disasters like Chernobyl; chronic industrial pollution and smog--endangering entire plant, animal, and human species.

1995 and 1998 were the two most disastrous years in recorded history, up until then, according to "The London Telegraph".

Christ's predictions could not have referred to events in any other than our time. We are in the endtime days leading to The Great Tribulation. Thankfully they are also leading to the appearance of the Messiah soon after, bringing the Wonderful World Tomorrow, millennial Kingdom of God, which the endtime Elijah predicted and promoted.

Christ further said there would be "earthquakes in various places" in the endtime.

There were at least 78 major earthquakes in the 20th Century, killing over one-and-a-quarter-million people, according to the official record keepers.

No previous earthquakes could have done more damage than the San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Kobe Quakes--because no such major cities existed prior to the 20th Century.

"The Times [of London] ATLAS OF THE 20th CENTURY--The Definitive Account of Our Century" published in 1996 calls the 20^th Century, "The Revolutionary Century". Below are some of the chapter headings reflecting main themes of that century.

Are these things that have continued from the beginning of Creation? Or are these mainly unequalled events that mark this as the unique endtime?:

--The Population Explosion

--Global Voluntary Migration

--Major Refugee Movements

--New infectious diseases identified since 1976

--Range of malaria

--Incidence of tuberculosis [which kills more people than AIDS and malaria combined]

--Telecommunications

--Air Transport

--Motorization

--Mass Leisure

--Tourism

--Terrorism. There were over 5000 acts of international terrorism from 1968 to 1994.

--Acid rain; petrochemical, ocean, and river pollution

--Deforestation: rain forests under threat

--Drought

--Flood damage from 1973

--Radioactive fall-out

--The World Drug Trade ("By the mid-1990's the trade was estimated to be worth $500 billion, making it the single most lucrative business sector in the world".

--Space Exploration

--The New Economic Super-Powers: Germany and Japan

Without the evidence available now, the Apostle Peter was inspired to forsee 1900 years ago: "...that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:3-4).

But things have never been like they are now.

T H I S  I S  T H E  E N D T I M E !

The video industry is known in United States trade circles as the business sector built by pornography. The internet is rife with porn.

Before the 20th Century phenomenon of the wide public acceptance of pornography, and the means to mass produce and distribute it--pornography could never have been so widely circulated as now.

Things now must be worse than they were in Sodom and Gomorrah, which God destroyed.

God  m u s t  intervene soon, if he is consistent.

Herbert W Armstrong long predicted, during the 20th Century, that the curses for disobedience to God--listed in Deuteronomy 28--would befall the endtime descendants of the tribes of Israel unless they repented.

 
--Cursed shall you be in the city, and in the country.

--Cursed shall be your food.

--Cursed shall be your children.

--The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart.

--The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher.

Such curses have plagued America, Britain, and the other descendants of Israel, as never before.

"Moreover all these curses [which includes many others cited in Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26], shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to  keep His commandments and his statutes which He commanded you".

Surely this indicates the time of Jacob's [Israel's] trouble --The Great Tribulation--is near.

No truly converted person can deny that the world now is in the state of spiritual meltdown, which the Bible said it would be in the endtime--and shortly before The Great Tribulation.

Israel--especially the leading Tribes of England and Anglo-Saxon America--will go into captivity (in the Tribulation) because of their sins, and failure to heed the warnings to repent, of the God-inspired endtime Elijah.

God's Two Witnesses are only empowered for 1260 literal days (or 3-and-a-half prophetic days), the combined length of the Tribulation, and the Day of the LORD which cuts it short. This is the same length of time that the First Beast and the False Prophet will be empowered by Satan. Therefore, the Two Witnesses only have about 900 days before the Day of the LORD literally shakes the Earth.

The  D a y  of the LORD, which is mentioned many times in Scripture, will probably be one prophetic d a y long, or 360 days in length.

Since Israel will be in captivity in the Tribulation, and the entire world will be in upheavel during the tumultuous Day of the LORD, it would be impossible for the Restoration of Elijah to take place then. His Restoration must take place before those events, in a time of relative peace. That's exactly what Herbert W Armstrong was able to accomplish during more than half-a-century.

The endtime Elijah not only comes before the Day of the LORD, he must come  b e f o r e  the start of the Tribulation. Otherwise Israel will have had no major prior warning from God.

The Two Witnesses testify that God is God, as the original and latter Elijah did. But part of the testimony of the Two Witnesses must surely be that Elijah, whom God sent, has come already, but his warning was not heeded--and that's why Israel is going into captivity.

In hindsight, it can be seen that the commencement of Elijah's Work announced the endtime had started. The death of the endtime Elijah, signalled the completion of his Restoration, and announced that the Great Falling Away would follow in the true Church.

There cannot be the Great Falling Away from Truth until there is first the Great Restoration of endtime Elijah, from which there can be the Falling Away.

The Falling Away precedes The Great Tribulation. It is followed by the Day of the LORD.

"...for [that day of the LORD, and the LORD's subsequent arrival shall not come], except there come a falling away first..." (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

That Falling Away from the Truth, which the endtime Elijah restored, has already taken place in the worldwide church he founded. Therefore, we know we are near the start of the final 1335 Day countdown to the end. (See Daniel 12:10-13).

Born in 1892, "The Autobiography of Herbert W Armstrong" tells how he grew up seeing the world change from how it always had been for thousands of years, to the modern age with its unprecedented explosion of knowledge, accompanied by extensive global travel.

These are the two hallmarks which Daniel the prophet was informed by God, would characterize the endtime:

This would include the increase of spiritual knowledge, because God promised to send the latter-day Elijah in the endtime.

The increase of spiritual knowledge was fulfilled during Herbert W Armstrong's lengthy ministry when he expounded the meaning of Scripture, including prophecy, under inspiration of the power of the Holy Spirit.

The internationally famous evangelist Billy Graham, once said that no-one knows more about Bible prophecy than Herbert W Armstrong. He was correct in that assessment.

Although he had done some preliminary broadcasts from October 9, 1933, Mr Armstrong took the official starting date of "The World Tomorrow" radio broadcasts to be January 7, 1934, when they first became regular programs. "The Plain Truth" magazine was started February 1, that year. The first real office of the Radio Church of God, (using the address P.O. Box 111, Eugene, Oregon), opened on May 14, 1941. That was 7 years to the day before the State of Israel declared independence.

Mr Armstrong started the first of three liberal arts, university level, Ambassador Colleges, to train a field ministry and their wives--and other staff--in Pasadena, California on October 8, 1947.

A second Ambassador College in America was located in Big Sandy, Texas. The British based Ambassador College was situated between St Albans and Watford, 21 miles north of London, at Bricket Wood, in the green belt area of Hertfordshire, on the Hanstead House estate previously owned by Sir David Yule. Ambassador College, Bricket Wood, opened its doors to British and a variety of international students on October 14, 1960.

In 1934 the beginning year of the radio broadcast and magazine, Herbert W Armstrong predicted Benito Mussolini would attack Ethiopia and would declare that the 'Holy' Roman Empire had been revived. Both these things happened. After invading Ethiopia, Mussolini declared on May 9, 1936 that Italy had an Empire again.

The so-called Holy Roman Empire had always been under German kings and located essentially on German soil. The 'Holy' Roman Empire's "sovereign was usually the German king, and the German lands were always its chief component", according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. The same article entitled "Holy Roman Empire" also states:

"The German Empire of 1871-1918 was often called the Second Reich (empire) to indicate its descent from the medieval [Holy Roman] empire; by the same reasoning, Adolf Hitler referred to Nazi Germany as the Third Reich".

Mussolini and Hitler collaborated in forming the Rome-Berlin Axis which was proclaimed on October 25, 1936. It lasted for exactly 444 weeks, ending on the day Mussolini died, April 28, 1945. Hitler committed suicide two days later.

Mr Armstrong would have been justified in basing his conclusion on what Mussolini would do, on at least three things.

Firstly, that the endtime had started, because he now understood previously sealed endtime prophecies, which Daniel was told could only be understood once the latter days started; and that they'd only be understood by "the wise". That is, those who were obedient to the Law of God, and had their eyes opened by him to understand endtime prophecy. Mr Armstrong had become obedient to God's Law.

Secondly, it was during this time that the unique Bible prophecy in Revelation 17:9-10 was opened to Mr Armstrong's understanding, which can only be understood at one time in history, in the present tense form in which it was written.

"And here [is] the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. And there are seven kings [or kingdoms]: five are fallen, and  o n e  i s,  [and] the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space".

When understood, the prophecy revealed that there would be seven successive resurrections of the 'Holy' Roman Empire.

"O n e  i s",  could only be understood in the present tense time when it was actually occurring.

The only window of opportunity to see this was during the 444-week revival of the 'Holy' Roman Empire under Mussolini and Hitler.

No-one else but Herbert W Armstrong saw this at the time.

That indicated to him that endtime prophecy was being opened, and therefore that the endtime had begun. It also meant that Mr Armstrong was a prophet, because God had promised:

"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).

Mussolini and Hitler's Rome-Berlin Axis constituted the sixth resurrection of the 'Holy' Roman Empire, supported by the Roman Catholic Church. While it was known that Mussolini regarded himself as a new Caesar, Herbert W Armstrong was unique in identifying him as the sixth king of Revelation 17:9-10, at the time Mussolini held that office.

To have understood this prophecy, which revealed the start of the endtime, by God's own definition made Herbert W Armstrong a prophet enlightened by Heaven. Since the major prophet God promised to send in the endtime was Elijah, that must be who Mr Armstrong was.

Thirdly, Daniel had very specifically prophesied:

"...at the  t i m e  o f   t h e  e n d  shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships..."

Italy had secured two ends of Ethiopia for herself. Her inland thrust led to a war in 1896 against Ethiopia which Italy lost. This was unique because it was the only defeat of a European power by an African state. And, therefore, not generally expected.

Mr Armstrong saw that at that time the "king of the north" applied to Mussolini, the sixth king of Revelation 17:9-10, and that the "king of the south" applied to Ethiopia (Abyssinia) which Mussolini later defeated.

Mr Armstrong soon understood--even before World War 2 was over--that the prophecy did not apply solely to the start of the endtime with Mussolini's actions, but also was applicable to the termination of the endtime, when it applied to the seventh and final king over the resurrected 'Holy' Roman Empire, who is also the First Beast of Revelation 13.

Prophecy, Mr Armstrong saw, often has a dual application. "...and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He [the king of the North, seventh king, or First Beast] shall enter also into the glorious land [the Holy Land], and many [countries] shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, [even] Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians [shall be] at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many" (Daniel 11:40-44).

The second part of the dual application would involve the seventh revival of the 'Holy' Roman Empire, which will invade the Middle East, principally Jerusalem and the Holy Land of Israel.

Ultimately, God predicted: "...I will gather a l l  n a t i o n s  a g a i n s t  J e r u s a l e m  to  battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and h a l f o f t h e c i t y shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which [is] before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south" (Zechariah 14:2-4).

Doubtless it is the Old City half of Jerusalem with the coveted Temple Mount which will be taken captive by the King of the North. He is also the First Beast--the political/military dictator of the world, at the latter end of the endtime. Thus the Jews will temporarily lose, again, what they regained in the 1967 Six Day War. But the Messiah will come to their rescue.

As the years rolled by, Herbert W Armstrong and his staff documented and commented on the mounting evidence that we are indeed in the endtime.

Mr Armstrong showed that in Matthew 24, Christ himself interpreted the key events of prophecy which are sealed in the Book of Revelation, which only Jesus can open (Revelation 5:1-5).

The events predicted began to be fulfilled at the time of the prophecy about 1900 years ago, but are intensifying in the endtime.

Only Christ can unseal the prophecies. Only a prophet in the true Church would be given their correct interpretation. The seven seals cover all the prophecies in the Book of Revelation. When opened they reveal:

--Widespread religious deception masquerading as God's Truth.

--Great wars.

--Famine.

--Disease Epidemics.

Combined with the huge increase in knowledge and global travel, plus 'natural' disasters, events would culminate in The Great Tribulation--which would extinguish all human life, unless God intervened by sending the glorified Christ.

It was only in the 20th Century that man acquired the means to kill everyone on Earth, making Christ's prediction hugely relevant that "...except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved [alive]..." (Matthew 24:22). It is also verified that the endtime is here.

During the very time in which Mr Armstrong warned Israel and the world--there came to be at least these different methods whereby man could destroy himself: nuclear annihilation, chemical warfare, overpopulation and resulting famine, disease epidemics, and environmental pollution. A British scientist announced a new method in April 2001: It's now possible with current technology to divert asteroids to destroy a nation, or all of human life on Earth.

The very year Herbert W Armstrong was born, 1892, saw in America the following firsts. The first radio broadcast demonstration; the first web-fed four-color rotary printing press used; the first concrete road built; the first automobile pneumatic patent; the first Addressograph invented; the first moving picture studio built; the first public speaking department in a university started; the first practical duplex telegraph patented; the first succcessful automatic telephone system invented; and the first portable typewriter invented, (according to "Famous First Facts--A Record of First Happenings, Discoveries and Inventions in the United States", by Joseph Nathan Kane; H.W.Wilson Company, New York, 1950; pages 559-560).

All of these things were used by Mr Armstrong to deliver his message. God saw that they were started in the year he was born, and fully developed by the time Mr Armstrong was ready to use them to preach the Gospel worldwide.

Neither the flesh and blood Jesus of Nazareth or his First Century Apostles, nor anyone since, has had the open door and means to preach the true Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the extent that Herbert W Armstrong did in the 20th Century.

How could anyone be the endtime Elijah more than him?

The Two Witnesses "...are the two olive trees, [symbolizing two leaders filled with God's Holy Spirit] a n d the two [lampstands] standing before the God of the earth" (Revelation 11:4).

"...the seven [lampstands] which [John saw] are [or symbolize] the seven churches" (Revelation 1:20).

In other words, the Two Witnesses--who are "two prophets" of God (Revelation 11:10)--lead and represent the last two eras of the Church, during their ministry. One comes he Philadelphia era, the other from the Laodicean era. Church members from these two eras support them, in the 1260 days of their empowerment.

In the endtime, Israel will eventually know that "a prophet has been among them" (Ezekiel 33:33). Notice that it does not say they'll know that two prophets are among them.

The Two Witnesses will have a worldwide impact. They are part of the Church--by definition being part of two of the lampstands, which symbolize the last two eras of the Church. They have their roots in the Work of God that the endtime Elijah did.

Their Work will be a continuation of his. Many who respond during the 1260-day empowerment of the Two Witnesses, will doubtless be people who had prior contact with the endtime Elijah's ministry.

The recognition that what he predicted has come to pass will trigger their conversion.

Interestingly, Mr Armstrong spent a great deal of time over the airwaves, delivering the warning message of Ezekiel to the endtime descendants of the House of Israel. Ezekiel himself was never able to do this personally in his day. God gave Ezekiel's prophetic message to him long after Israel went into captivity. He himself was captive with the House of Judah, in Babylon, in a location different to where the House of Israel was (Ezekiel 1:1-3). Mr Armstrong pointed that out many times.

Ezekiel's message--like much of prophecy--was meant for the endtime descendants of the House of Israel. It primarily concerned warning the House of Israel that unless they repented of their sins on a national basis, they would be severely defeated--and the remaining remnant would go into captivity.

Ezekiel never delivered it.   Herbert W Armstrong did!

Another indication that he was the endtime prophet, Elijah.

The combined total of direct and indirect conversions in the endtime before the Messiah arrives, of Herbert W Armstrong will exceed that of anyone else. Is it any wonder he, as the endtime Elijah who restores all things, is seen in the Transfiguration vision with Christ and Moses--instead of T w o endtime Witnesses?

Jesus was privately asked by his leading disciples "...when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matthew 24:3). The very first thing he warned them about was  w i d e s p r e a d  r e l i g i o u s              d e c e p t i o n.  "...Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name,
saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Matthew 24:4-5).

Mr Armstrong pointed out that Christ's warning here was not that people would impersonate Jesus, but by attaching his name to their misleading teachings, they'd deceive many.

Christ nowhere predicted huge amounts of people are going to be converted down through the eras of the Church--except in the last stages of the endtime, when a great multitude will respond to the chastisement of the Tribulation and the message of the Two Witnesses (Revelation 7:9-17). Even it will be small in comparison to the total population of the planet (Luke 12:32).

After Jesus Christ's resurrection, the 1st Century, Church of God, started on the day of Pentecost in 31AD with 120 disciples, who were joined by about 3000 others that day, in Jerusalem (Acts 2:41).

The "many" Jesus referred to, who are deceived by false teachers, believe they are faithful people of God, when they are not. A third of the world claims to be Christian. If Christ is to be believed, many of them are deceived. Shocking--but true!

The Book of Revelation, which God gave to Jesus to have the Apostle John record, specifically states that "...the great dragon...that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan...deceives the whole world..." (Revelation 12:9)

S A T A N   D E C E I V E S  T H E  W  H O L E  W O R L D !

It's not just many misled people who mistakenly think they are Christians who are deceived. The other two thirds of the world, which doesn't even pretend to follow Christ, is also deceived by Satan. Including agnostics and atheists.

The religious state of the world now, is as Jesus predicted it would be in the endtime.

Any person claiming to be a Christian, who doubts that, ought to ask themselves questions like these raised by Mr Armstrong:

• Since Jesus kept the last day of the week Sabbath, in compliance with the Ten Commandments--the foundational Law of God--which he said not even one jot or tittle had been done away with, why do the majority claiming to follow Jesus, observe the first day of the week?

Dr Samuele Bacchiocchi's thesis "From Sabbath to Sunday" --authorized by the Vatican--proves from its own library's archives that the Roman Catholic Church changed God's weekly Sabbath Day to the opposite end of the week, without Bible authority!

• Jesus said "...An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:39-40). Since Jesus gave only this one important sign to the world of his Messiahship, why do professing Christians instead believe that Christ was in the grave only from late on 'Good' Friday until early Sunday morning?

That is a period considerably less than three days and three nights. Using this reckoning, professing Christians d e n y the crucial sign Jesus gave that he is the Messiah.

The world Herbert W Armstrong warned has become worse because it has not repented. Today it is racked with wars, violence and general lawlessness. Droughts, famines, floods, earthquakes, and other 'natural' catastrophes frequently occur in diverse areas. Disease epidemics are rampant. The United Europe Mr Armstrong forsaw is a reality now. It awaits only the leadership of the supernaturally empowered satanic Beast. He will invade the State of Israel--and subdue the world--aided by a deceptive 'miracle working' religious pope, and 10 other rulers who will give their military, political, and economic power to him.

The State of Israel has long been under huge pressure, which is leading to the prophesied major wound she is prophesied to receive in the endtime (Hosea 5:13; 8:14).

The aggressive Islamic world already exists which will deliver the prophesied King of the South, whose prophesied attack on the King of the North is bound to be over the clash of interests concerning Jerusalem. Both the Muslim world and the Vatican, ignoring that God deeded Jerusalem to Israel forever, wrongly claim it is theirs.

Major fires affect the nations of greater Israel.

Diseases and bad weather have and will hugely damage the British and American crops and economy, such as with the disastrous mad-cow disease.

The curses in Leviticus 26 striking or yet to strike America and Britain and the Anglo-Saxon/Celts people worldwide include: terror that truly terrifies; consumptive diseases that wastes one away; burning ague (or fever) that consumes the eyes, and causes sorrow of heart (impairing physical, mental and spiritual faculties); farming in vain since produce is eaten by Israel's enemies; killed by enemies in conflicts (as in Vietnam); reigned over by foreigners who hate the descendants of Israel; fleeing when none pursue; having God break the pride in the power of the nation; heaven as iron (no rain), earth as brass (no crops); plagues multiplying in proportion to Britain and America's sins; wild animals robbing one of children, destroying livestock, and reducing population. Desolate highways. Rampant disease. Food not enough (or nourishing enough) to satisfy; chastised seven times more severely for sins by God (with the seven last plagues of Revelation); cannibalism of one's own children; important places destroyed; religious and secular idols demolished; cities ruined; churches desolate; enemies who invade astonished at the destruction (even as the September 11 planners were surprised at the extent of damage they did); Israelites to be scattered among the heathen nations; then their land will enjoy her (seven year) sabbaths; survivors to be captives in the enemy's lands, where they'll be very afraid, having no power to stand before them".

Herbert W Armstrong powerfully warned about all these things from 1934 to 1986. If individuals deeply repent in captivity (or before) of disregarding the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between himself and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses, then he will forgive and accept them back.

Deuteronomy 28 further warns the latter-day descendants of Israel--especially the English and English-speaking Americans:

Cursed shall you be in the city: [crime; smog; traffic; high cost of living; drugs].

Cursed shall you be in the country: [crop failure; mad cow and foot and mouth disease; pollution].

Cursed shall be your basket and kneading bowl [cancer-causing processed, and maybe genetically modified, foods].

Cursed shall be the fruit of your body [abortion; thalidomide births; congenital defects].

The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart: [high incidence of mental asylum cases, and widespread demand for psychologists, psychiatrists, and 'New Age' counsellors, indicating general lack of mental health].

The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower: [a general trend in the USA is affirmative action; Britain is already flooded with non-British; Israelitish South Africa gave away its birthright to non-Israelites; Australia has the second largest Greek city in the world and is host to many Asian immigrants who have prospered].

You shall betroth a wife, but another man will lie with her [Britain and America are rampant with pre-marital sex, adultery, and divorce].

Those who remain alive during the captivity of the Tribulation, who still will not repent, will suffer the Third Woe--or 7 Last Plagues described in the Book of Revelation:

1--malignant sores affect those with Mark of the Beast

2--everything in the sea dies

3--fresh waters also turn to blood

4--sun scorches people

5--light turned off in Beast's kingdom

6--Euphrates River dried, Kings of East go to Armageddon

7--worst earthquake in history, all islands disappear, great hailstones fall.

The Gentiles--or nations other than those descended from Israel--will fight Christ after gathering at Armageddon, north of Jerusalem, and will lose terribly.

In order for the endtime prophecies to be fulfilled, of Jerusalem being trampled underfoot by the Gentiles for 1260 days (Revelation 11:2); of half the Jewish section of Jerusalem being taken captive (Zechariah 14;1-2); of Assyria invading Judah (Isaiah 7:17; 8:7-8); of some in Judea being capable of fleeing at the s i g n of the Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15-16)...there has to be a sizeable Jewish presence in the biblical land of Israel in the endtime.

This had not been the case since 70AD in the 1st Century AD,

when the Temple was destroyed by the Romans, under Titus. He razed Jerusalem and is said to have killed a million Jews, forcing most of the remainder to disperse around the world, until the 20^th Century.

In the 19th Century a newspaperman and Austrian Jew, Theodor Herzl, published a book "Der Judenstaat". It stirred the passions of Jews worldwide, with its vision of a Jewish state. The book was one of the main catalysts which motivated Jews to turn their dream of returning to the Promised Land into a reality.

The Balfour Declaration of 1917 led to the 29 November 1947 United Nation's resolution to partition Palestine between Jews and Arabs. The State of Israel was proclaimed on 14 May 1948. Today Israel is the strongest military power in the Middle East.

In the 6 Day War of 1967 the Jews recovered the old part of Jerusalem with the Wailing Wall and Temple Mount site, which has to be in their possession for the prophecy of the Abomination of Desolation to be fulfilled (Daniel 12:11; Luke 21:20-24; Matthew 24:15-20).

The return of the Jews to their homeland--which took place during the lifetime of Herbert W Armstrong--is a s i g n that has already taken place, indicating the return of Christ will occur in this generation.

The commission Christ gave the original Apostles was to preach the Gospel to all the world, but primarily to the Lost Tribes of Israel, as He had done (Matthew 10:5-6; 15:24;28:19-20). This they did. However, the knowledge of where the dispersed Tribes of Israel went, became lost.

In order for the prophecies to be fulfilled that the Gospel was to be preached worldwide shortly before Christ's return, the Lost Tribes had to first be identified again in our day. This was never comprehensively done until Herbert W Armstrong did it in the 20th Century.

After collating the existing evidence, Mr Armstrong first produced a manuscript in April 1928 identifying the Anglo-Saxons of Britain, and the United States of America as the two leading of the 10 Tribes of the House of Israel. It was to these two Tribes he primarily preached. However, all the Tribes exist in America to which he preached extensively. Representatives of most of the world's nations also live in the USA, and heard his message.

Mr Armstrong also identified the other Tribes as being mainly located in the democracies of Western Europe, other than the Jewish Tribe. (This excludes Germany, which he identified as the ancestors of the ancient warrior Assyrians. God is going to use them to punish the Tribes of Israel in the Great Tribulation, unless the Israelites repent).

The correct identification of the 12 Tribes in our time by Herbert W Armstrong, and his 52-year preaching of the true Gospel to them--is a s i g n already fulfilled, that Christ's return is imminent.

At the end of the 1st Century the New Testament Church had lost its first love (Revelation 2:1-7); wolves had taken over some of its congregations (3 John 9-10); there was a great falling away from truth (2 Thessalonians 2); and therefore the Good News that the coming Kingdom of God is to be established by Christ in Jerusalem was not widely spread anymore.

There were small subsequent revivals of the true Church through the ages, but nothing to match the impact of Christ and the original Apostles.

In order for a global endtime preaching of the Gospel to fulfill prophecy, there had to be a major revival of the Church in our time. Looking back, it is clear that this started with Mr Armstrong being called to a God-ordained mission in 1926, and the subsequent 21 October 1933 inauguration of the Radio Church of God in Eugene, Oregon--later renamed Worldwide Church of God, when it reached that status.

With the support of the organized Church, Herbert W Armstrong preached the Gospel to the Lost Tribes of Israel by radio, TV, the print media, public campaigns, and private visits with world leaders.

The rise of the Worldwide Church of God preaching the true Gospel in the endtime, has been a s i g n that E l i j a h h a s c o m e and the return of Christ will be in our lifetime.

Since the Wicked one--whom Christ will destroy at his Second Coming--has a 1260-day-administration in the endtime, which only starts AFTER the Great Falling Away from truth in God's Church occurs:

I t   i s  c l e a r  t h a t  t h e  e n d t i m e  E l i j a h  h a s  t o  f i n i s h  h i s  R e s t o r a t i o n  W o r k 
B E F O R E  t h e  F a l l i n g  A w a y, 
B E F O R E  T h e  G r e a t  T r i b u l a t i o n, 
B E F O R E  t h e  a p p e a r a n c e  o f  t h e  W i c k e d  o n e.

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day of Christ's Coming shall not come], except there come a f a l l i n g a w a y f i r s t...And t h e n shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2:3,8).

In her 15 July 1996 "Christianity Today" magazine article entitled "From the Fringe to the Fold", Protestant historian Dr Ruth Tucker stated that the doctrinal changes made by Herbert W Armstrong's successors in the Worldwide Church of God, after his death, are THE LARGEST REVERSAL OF TEACHINGS BY A CHURCH IN THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY!

In other words:

NO GREATER FALLING AWAY FROM ORIGINAL DOCTRINE TAUGHT,
HAS EVER TAKEN PLACE IN ANY OTHER CHURCH.

Otherwise there still has to be a greater restoration of truth than Mr Armstrong accomplished for a greater falling away to occur.

That makes no sense, since Mr Armstrong restored all the truth necessary for salvation; the government of God in the Church--and preached the true Gospel to a wider audience than anyone in the history of the world BEFORE the Falling Away. This included reaching numerous heads of states in the endtime with the announcement that God's Kingdom is coming.

The inescapable truth of the Bible is: If the endtime Elijah has not yet come, then no 20th or 21st Century church has yet comprehensively understood God's truth--and none will until Elijah restores true worship.

Jesus Christ predicted that in the endtime, "because lawlessness will abound, the ("agape"--Godly) love of many will grow cold" (v12) in the true Church. Any genuine member knows that has happened in our day during this time of general lawlessness in the world--influencing many who regard themselves as people of God, to wrongly believe they don't have to obey his Law.

The natural affection and love of many in the world has also grown cold in this endtime, as the Apostle Paul predicted it would: "...in the last days [before the Messiah appears] perilous times will come." He outlined what it will be like in 1 Timothy 3:1-5):

-- "men [people--will be] lovers of themselves"

-- "lovers of money"

-- "boasters"

-- "proud"

-- "blasphemers"

-- "disobedient to parents"

-- "unthankful"

-- "unholy"

-- "unloving"

-- "unforgiving"

-- "slanderers"

-- "without self-control"

-- "brutal"

-- "despisers of good"

-- "traitors"

-- "headstrong"

-- "haughty"

-- "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God"

-- "having a form of godliness but denying its power"

The description above--in one way or the other--fits the majority of people in the world.

Since wicked thoughts lead to actions--and much of the news and entertainment broadcast nowadays revolves around these attitudes, we have to be living in days like those of Noah--which were only prophesied to come again in the endtime.

A sure  s i g n  God will intervene in world affairs soon, and that Herbert W Armstrong did warn Israel in the endtime.

He also warned that Britain and America would lose their strategic sea-gates. Since his death America has lost the important Panama Canal, and Britain is reported to be in the process of losing the also important Gibraltar sea-gate--besides the others already lost.

A list of these is a telling s i g n of already fulfilled prophecy. Britain's loss of the Falklands and Gibraltar may be two of the final signs she is about to lose her sovereignty, which some point out now has been severely eroded by the European Union.

I f  t h e  e n d t i m e  E l i j a h  h a s  n o t  y e t  c o m e,  t h e n  w e  a r e  n o t   i n  t h e  e n d t i m e.

But every sign screams out that we are in the momentous endtime! When looked at logically, all the evidence is that Elijah has come already.

HERBERT W ARMSTRONG IS THE ONLY MAJOR PERSON TO COME AT THE RIGHT TIME,
TO THE RIGHT AUDIENCE,
WITH THE RIGHT MESSAGE,
WHO COULD QUALIFY TO BE THE ENDTIME ELIJAH.
ANYONE ELSE WAS TOO EARLY, AND IS NOW TOO LATE, TO FULFILL THAT OFFICE.

Proof #3: HWA Ministered to the Constituency of
The Endtime Elijah

"T h e  b u r d e n  o f  t h e  w o r d  o f  t h e  L O R D
t o  I s r a e l...B e h o l d,  I  w i l l  s e n d  y o u
E l i j a h  t h e  p r o p h e t..." (Malachi 4:5).

The constituency of the endtime Elijah is primarily Israel. In order to address this constituency, the endtime Elijah first has to correctly identify it, since the knowledge of who the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel are, became lost even to themselves.

Herbert W Armstrong identified who especially the main Tribes of Israel are  b e f o r e  he started his fledging ministry, which grew to be worldwide.

As has already been shown, his most widely distributed book, "The United States and Britain in Prophecy", pointed out that this constituency was enormously larger than the Jewish population of the world.

God promised to send Elijah to Israel. Primarily that means, to the House of Israel. And most specifically to its leading Tribe Joseph, whose sons Ephraim and Manasseh, are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxon English and Americans, respectively.

It also meant reaching the other Tribes of Israel.

In a general sense Elijah was also sent to Judah--the Jews--since they are the important inheritor of the Scepter promise. But primarily, Elijah was sent to the Lost House of Israel. Herbert W Armstrong went to all of Israel, (as defined by the list of nations at the end of The article identifying the Tribes of Israel today.).

This included visiting many of the Prime Ministers and other leaders of Judah (the modern State which calls itself "Israel"--but consists mainly of the Jewish Tribe).

One of the first world leaders which invited Mr Armstrong to visit him was Prime Minister Golda Meir of that country, which is not to be confused with the House of Israel, which never was Jewish.

All the Tribes of Israel are in any case represented in the USA, which Mr Armstrong saturated with his message of the coming "Wonderful World Tomorrow" millennial Kingdom of God. He died at age 93-and-a-half, having successfully completed his mission.

The extent to which Herbert W Armstrong preached to the constituency of Israel, can be seen by the following facts. In addition, as was prophesied of Israel's leading Tribe, Joseph, this endtime Elijah's mission branched over the wall to reach the tallest trees of many other nations.

• H W A  F o u n d e d  a  W o r l d w i d e  C h u r c h.

By the end of his life in 1986, Herbert W Armstrong had opened Church offices in the USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Columbia, South America, Puerto Rico, The Caribbean, France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, The Philippines, Israel, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Mauritius. These were the regional bases for distributing his material, Church congregations, and individual disciples, were in almost every country of the world.

In 1926 Mr Armstrong's wife Loma (nee Dillon), was told by a neighbor of the o n l y weekly Sabbath commanded in the Bible, the one lasting from Friday sunset until Saturday sunset. She immediately understood the need to observe it, as one of the cardinal laws of the Ten Commandments. He fiercely resisted, until in an endeavor to prove her wrong, Mr Armstrong--using professional business methods--researched the matter, only to discover she was right.

This led to an in depth six-months study of the Bible, in which Mr Armstrong was horrified to find that many of the major teachings of the large established churches, are the exact opposite of what the Bible says...just as Sunday--the first day of the week--is at the exact opposite end of the week from the true Sabbath, which is the seventh and last day of the week.

Mainstream churches teach that people go to Heaven when they die. Mr Armstrong saw that Jesus taught "...no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven" (John 3:13).

Instead of people going to Heaven, Mr Armstrong fully comprehended that Jesus would be coming back to Earth. An angel told the disciples when Christ ascended "this same J e s u s, which is taken up from you into heaven,  s h a l l  s o  c o m e  in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). And, that Christ's Gospel--or Good News message--revolved around his future return to establish the world-ruling Kingdom of God. The same message all the prophets of God had taught (Acts 3:18-21).

This had been Christ's message from the beginning. "Now after that John [the Baptist] was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching   t h e  g o s p e l   [or Good News]  o f   t h e   k i n g d o m   o f   G o d,  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:14-15).

The repent part included the reason why Jesus had to die--and be resurrected--for humanity, and the love God displayed in sacrificing his own Son.

The Kingdom of God, would see this now glorified Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords, as Supreme Ruler over civil and religious affairs. He would govern from Jerusalem extending his dominion until it ruled every nation, tribe, and individual. He would govern according to the already revealed Laws of God established in the Bible.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this" (Isaiah 9:6-7).

While many churches taught that God's Law has been done away, Mr Armstrong learnt that Jesus taught the exact opposite:

1. “ T h i n k  n o t   t h a t  I  a m  c o m e  t o  d e s t r o y  t h e  l a w,  or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19).

Mr Armstrong discovered, that the Bible defines what sin is. "Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for  s i n  i s 
t h e  t r a n s g r e s s i o n  o f  t h e  l a w" (1 John 3:4). The Law of God is outlined in detail in the first five books of the Bible. the Ten Commandments, are the foundation on which all the other statutes and judgments mentioned from Genesis to Deuteronomy are based. The first four Commandments govern how we ought to love God, the last six govern how we ought to love other people.

Even the way Mr Armstrong divided the Ten Commandments into 4/6 is interesting, as the numerical value of the name Elijah in the section ending with Malachi 4:6 is 46. The Jews divide them 5/5. 55 is the numerical value of Elijah's name in the New Testament. Perhaps there is a Divine hint there.

Jesus didn't do away with the Law of God, Mr Armstrong observed. Jesus magnified how it ought to be kept, showing God intended the spirit of the Law to be observed--as well as the letter of the Law. For example, the Seventh Commandment not only forbids adultery, Christ showed it forbids even contemplating that sin (Matthew 5:27-28). That made the Law of God far more binding, and applicable to every thought and action.

Whereas the major churches teach that when people die they go to heaven, or have an immortal soul so that they don't really die, Mr Armstrong found that the Bible teaches that "(...t h e  w a g e s  o f  s i n [ i s ] d e a t h..." (Romans 6:23). That is, eternal death.

The whole of 1 Corinthians 15, written by the Apostle Paul, who had been taught by the leading rabbinical teacher and understood the official Jewish viewpoint of his day, and by Jesus, shows that a resurrection is necessary if we are to ever live again after death.

Paul explained "The last enemy that will be destroyed is death" (verse 26). Death, being the total absence of life, is every person's very real enemy. Jesus came to save humanity from sin, which includes literally saving them from the eternal death penalty, which their sins have earned.

The second half of Romans 6:23 quoted above, states "but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". Eternal life is not something one automatically has. It is a gift given by God, but only to those who repent and obey him.

That involves repenting of past sins, a commitment not to repeat them, keeping God's Ten Commandments, and proper adult baptism, to demonstrate one's sincerity, and receive God's Holy Spirit--the power which enables one to keep the Law of God in its spiritual intent.

The Apostle Peter confirmed this. "[Jesus]...has God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and [so is] also  t h e  H o l y  S p i r i t, whom God has 
g i v e n  t o  t h e m  t h a t  o b e y  him" (Acts 5:31-32).

One cannot have eternal life without first receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, and living a life of overcoming sin, self, society, and Satan. One cannot experience eternal life in a human body. God has to supply a new immortal, Spirit-composed body to those he resurrects.

Speaking to genuine Christians, the Apostle Paul pointed out that "...God...has also sealed us, and given the earnest [or, a deposit] of the Spirit in our hearts" as a guarantee that he would resurrect them with an eternal spiritual body and mind (2 Corinthians 1:22. See also chapter 5:5 in the New King James Version).

Mr Armstrong was shown by God that even the Creator's identity was misunderstood by the established churches, who believe Heaven is run by an impossible to clearly explain, mysterious Trinity of persons. The Bible by contrast, he saw, likens the Godhead to an easy to understand family. The Almighty God is the Father of all, Jesus is his firstborn Son (of many other brethren yet to be resurrected to immortality).

Spiritually "...Jerusalem...above...is the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:26). The Holy Spirit is the power by which God accomplishes all he does. It is not a third person in a closed Trinity. Spiritually the Church is the Bride-to-be of Christ, which will marry him at his Second Coming, and through her, future generations of children will be born into the Kingdom of God.

Just as Christ is the future husband of the Church, (which is Spiritual Israel), so is a man the husband of the wife he marries (Ephesians 5:22-33).

God is in the process of increasing his family. Just as you carry the name and characteristics of your parents, the sons and daughters of God, born again into his Kingdom composed of immortal Spirit, will carry his name and characteristics. The Apostle John told recipients of God's Holy Spirit in his day, "Beloved,  n o w  a r e  w e  t h e  s o n s  o f  G o d, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, w h e n  h e  s h a l l  a p p e a r,  w e  s h a l l  b e  l i k e  h i m; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).

God progressively, one doctrine at a time, opened Herbert W Armstrong's mind to understand the comprehensive, true and clear message of the Bible. Understanding the characteristics of the true Church, one of which was that it was a "little flock" (Luke 12:32)--not some huge denomination--he set out to find it. He knew it existed because Jesus had said "...I will build my church; and the gates of hell [that is, the grave--symbolizing death] shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).

In other words, the true Church of God, which Jesus founded, would never die out. (Mr Armstrong also came to realize that the widely held view, that upon death sinners go to an ever-burning hell fire, is not biblical either. That is neither the Bible's meaning of the original Hebrew and Greek words translated "hell", nor is it the nature of a loving God to punish in that fashion, neither could human flesh burn for very long before being totally consumed).

Mr Armstrong saw that in twelve places in the New Testament the genuine congregation of true believers had the name "Church of God". He knew their modern equivalents would also be keeping the seventh-day of the week Sabbath sign, for they were Spiritual Israel. Going by biblical guidelines, he located remnants of the true Church of God in the United States. They were indeed a little flock, and had lost many Bible truths.

They were not actively trying to preach the Gospel to the whole world, but tended to be focused on their own group.

Coming to know and work among these people, Herbert W Armstrong was ordained around Pentecost 1931. That was, he pointed out, exactly 100 19-year cycles of the moon in the Hebrew Calendar, after the New Testament Church started in Jerusalem in 31AD. (By comparison, the Roman Catholic Church claims to have started in Rome in 33AD).

Mr Armstrong had been a highly ambitious and financially successful advertizing copywriter and salesman, exuding energy and accomplishment. Then, on three separate occasions his business had been snatched from his grasp due to changing circumstances beyond his control.

Brought to a point of total humility, Mr Armstrong was baptized as an adult, and then inspired with a new mission.

Mr Armstrong identified the Sabbath-keeping Church of God he located, as remnants of the fifth era of the original Church which Jesus Christ and his Apostles had founded in 31AD.

God used Herbert W Armstrong to raise the sixth--or Philadelphia era--of the true Church (Revelation 3:7-13).

Before then, Mr Armstrong sent his treatise on "Anglo-Israelism" to Andrew Dugger, one of the leaders of the Church of God he had searched for and found. In a letter dated April 20, 1928, Dugger agreed to read it (and a manuscript Mr Armstrong wrote showing strategic flaws in the theory of evolution).

While the document identifying the Lost Tribes of Israel was acknowledged, it wasn't taken seriously enough by that Church of God to publish it. The successors of that organization still don't believe it. The July-August 2002 edition of their magazine "Bible Advocate" (page 5) claims "Neither Bible history nor prophecy deal directly with specific states outside the then-known world stretching from the western Mediterranean to southern Asia. Today's world powers are not named therein: ...England...Germany ...the US..."

That Church seems unaware that endtime prophecy deals with the descendants of the peoples of Bible times--who are around today-- and therefore does refer to modern nations.

Even his critics have acknowledged that by February 1929, Herbert W Armstrong had started writing what became his most widely distributed work "The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy"--and that by that time, he already saw his mission to warn the world.

His tent campaign starting July 9, 1933--which Mr Armstrong regarded as the real start of his evangelistic Work of preaching worldwide--took place [this author notes] on the 777th day inclusive after the idealized date of him being called on the Feast of Trumpets, 9-9-1926. The Radio Church of God was incorporated on October 21, 1933.

July 9, 1933 had been less than six months after Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933.

Mr Armstrong started his regular radio broadcasts on January 7, 1934, and started publishing "The Plain Truth" magazine on February 1 that year, with the cover story: "Is a World Dictator About to Appear?"

Hitler became Dictator of Germany on August 2, 1934--and a prototype of the coming endtime world-dictator Beast. This further shows that after God prepared Herbert W Armstrong for his mission, he started fulfilling it at a crucial time in history.

World War 1 and World War 2 proved to be the worst wars in human history until then. Scripture clearly shows that World War 3 will be an even greater Holocaust. Today, even a rudimentary knowledge of the world's arsenal of weapons shows that is bound to be the case.

The radio broadcast Herbert W Armstrong started--which became known as "The World Tomorrow" program--started on the 100-watt Eugene, Oregon station KORE.

From about two decades later, with help from his gifted son, Garner Ted Armstrong, the broadcast grew to be on over 600 stations worldwide. The Worldwide Church of God was the largest purchaser of radio time in the world for decades, at the time when radio was its most effective. In many areas the broadcast could be heard several times during the day, or night.

Later the broadcast was televised and shown over many stations internationally.

Herbert W Armstrong was a pioneer in religious broadcasting. No-one claiming to be Elijah before him, could ever have surpassed the extent of Mr Armstrong's media reach in his day, and is now too late to claim they first restored all things in the endtime true Church of God.

"The World Tomorrow" program was first broadcast outside Oregon, on September 15, 1940 on KRSC, Seattle, Washington. On January 5, 1953 it first went to Britain and Europe via Radio Luxembourg, then the most powerful radio station in the world. It later was broadcast to Britain from seven different ships located outside that nation's territorial waters.

There's no question that many in Britain did hear the message of the endtime Elijah. Some became members of, and some ministers in, God's true Church.

Aides of Mr Armstrong also made the broadcast in seven foreign languages, including French, German, Italian, Dutch and Spanish.

• H W A  F o u n d e d  a n  I n t e r n a t i o n a l l y  C i r c u l a t e d  M a g a z i n e

"The Plain Truth" magazine was launched on February 1, 1934 and eventually reached a worldwide circulation of over 8,000,000. That made it one of the major magazines of all times. Remarkably, it achieved that circulation carrying no commercial advertizing, and charging no cover price. It only promoted further free publications that the Worldwide Church of God offered. The

Gospel, Christ had commissioned his disciples, must go to the nations free of charge. And that's how Herbert W Armstrong provided it.

"The Plain Truth" magazine was translated into the above and other languages, such as Norwegian; and allied material was distributed in languages as diverse as Afrikaans and Swahili.

Although Herbert W Armstrong primarily preached to the nations he identified as descendants of Israel, his message was broadcast worldwide.

"The Plain Truth" magazine was sent to virtually every nation on Earth. It was also advertized in major magazines around the world, including the large circulation "Reader's Digest", and in well-known local publications.

In the late 1970's Mr Armstrong's son, Garner Ted Armstrong --whom many could not distinguish from his father's voice--himself held 50 personal appearance campaigns in the United States and Canada, echoing his father's message.

In his later years, Mr Armstrong placed several full-page advertisements in the prestigious "Wall Street Journal" newspaper. The message of the endtime Elijah was thus widely circulated through various methods.

• H W A  P e r s o n a l l y  P r e a c h e d  t o  O v e r  7 0  N a t i o n s
  

Herbert W Armstrong himself personally delivered the message of the soon-coming Kingdom of God to many of the leading reigning Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, and other world leaders of his day. In all, he personally delivered his message to over 70 nations. Sometimes this would include a public appearance campaign.

It is improbable that any modern--or ancient--religious leader, had as much access to, and been on such good terms with, as many world leaders--as was Herbert W Armstrong, (with the possible exception of some Roman Pope). This despite the fact that Mr Armstrong's message effectively announced that each nation was going to have to surrender in the future to The Sovereign Ruler of the Universe. Something Scripture shows the nations will not surrender without a huge fight, which they'll lose.

Many of these leaders died shortly after Mr Armstrong visited them.

Probably, this author surmises, because God wants them to have Elijah's messages of the Wonderful World Tomorrow, as one of the first things they'll remember when resurrected into the kingdom of God on Earth.

Churches claiming to be Christian usually hold the view that today is the only day of salvation: anyone not saved by Jesus before they die is doomed forever. This consigns at least two-thirds of the current population of the planet, which doesn't claim Jesus as their Savior, to eternal oblivion; as well as the bulk of people who have ever lived.

It suggests the Devil is winning a war for 'souls'.

Mr Armstrong, possibly uniquely as a religious leader in the modern age, understood the Bible teaches no such thing.

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise...but is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

The Apostle Paul understood the truth of this matter, saying that eventually: "...a l l  I s r a e l  s h a l l  b e  s a v e d:  as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this [is] my covenant to them, when I shall take away their sins. As ...touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance [or recall]" (Romans 11:25-29).

The 37th chapter of Ezekiel--about the famous "valley of dry bones"--concerns the future physical resurrection of all of the House of Israel who died in the past, (and those yet to die before that resurrection), who were not genuinely converted before their death.

"And he said to me [Ezekiel], Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, you know. Again he said to me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say to them, O you dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live" (Ezekiel 37:3-5).

"Then he said to me, Son of man, these bones are  t h e  w h o l e  h o u s e  o f  I s r a e l: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost [which is exactly what many churches today teach is the irreversible condition of those not 'saved' before death]: ...And you shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the LORD have spoken [it], and performed [it], says the LORD" (Ezekiel 37:11-14).

Substitute the expression "the whole house of Israel" with the nations listed at the end of The article identifying the Tribes of Israel today.--and the countless millions of their dead since the patriarch Israel lived--and the innumerable millions soon to die in the Tribulation--and you have an idea of the army of Israelites that will be resurrected from the dead a f t e r the Millennium, to be given their first real chance of salvation.

This demonstrates the power, and love, of God.

God, being God, has systematically worked out in advance, what he wants to accomplish in the end. Scripture confirms that. It also reveals that God appoints the world's rulers. With that sort of control, it seems obvious that he will use those same leaders in the resurrection, for his purpose of converting the nations.

When rulers which a nation knew of in their time, are dramatically converted after being resurrected, it will influence those subjects to follow the same path. This will be especially true of the non-Israelitish nations, who've often been ruled by tyrants.

Those who will be resurrected earlier, at the Messiah's appearance at the start of the Millennium, are the

relatively few genuine members of the spiritual Body of believers, whom God has called through the ages, to be members of the Government of God forever. Such as the Old Testament Prophets and other righteous people listed in Hebrews 11, the Apostles of Jesus, and the membership of the seven eras of the true Church of God. This number of "firstfruits"--in the First general Resurrection (after Christ) will be 144,000. (See Revelation 14; Jude 14; and Chapter 19).

The vast majority of those deceased before the Second Coming of Christ--as Mr Armstrong showed--will only be resurrected 1000 years later, after the Millennium. When those leaders see again the by then 1000-year old, glorified, immortal Herbert W Armstrong in the Government of God--and themselves resurrected only to human existence--the shock and reality of his original message will sink in. As will the potential to also become an immortal son of God. "God is reproducing himself after his own kind," Mr Armstrong often explained.

These very world leaders Mr Armstrong witnessed to, will doubtless be key ones he interacts with at the time of their resurrection over a thousand years from now, to bring Israel and the nations to conversion, under the ruling King of kings, and Lord of lords, Jesus the Messiah, in conjunction with Moses.

This indicates that Herbert W Armstrong's Work was far more important and far-reaching than even many of his disciples--or critics--understood. It perhaps also explains why ever since his death--there has been a sustained attempt by some (under the influence of Satan)--to discredit him.

Those Kings and Queens and leaders of nations Herbert W Armstrong witnessed to, will be as shocked to see him glorified then, as were the disciples to see Jesus transfigured with Moses and Elijah, in a vision.

These members of Royalty and other world leaders, will have no problem then understanding that he was the endtime prophet Elijah.

Conversion will come quickly to them. They in turn will help positively influence countless of their resurrected countrymen.

The cumulative effect of the endtime Elijah's Work will only then be truly appreciated. Of course, he would be the first to correctly admit that without the Father and the Son, he would have been powerless to do any spiritual good.

God has determined in advance how his plan works out, and who the chief role players are. His calling and gifts are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).

• H W A  F o u n d e d  3  C o l l e g e s  t o  T r a i n  M i n i s t e r s  F r o m  A r o u n d  T h e  W o r l d

On October 8, 1947 Herbert W Armstrong founded the first of three unique co-educational university level Ambassador Colleges, which were based on the Law of God.

Their purpose was to train a ministry, their wives, and other staff for the worldwide mission Mr Armstrong and the Church had, to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to Israel, and the rest of the world.

The first Ambassador College was located at 300 West Green Street, Pasadena, California. This was after many years of following a Master Plan of restoration of the existing buildings, and gardens, which had been a millionaire's residence. The library building was the former home of the founder of International Harvester. That name could describe the spiritual function of the Church.

This campus three times won the award for the best looking and best-maintained campus in all of America!

The beauty went deeper, and was reflected in the genuinely friendly and helpful attitudes of the faculty and students. A visiting Queen of one nation summed up the experience by saying after her visit, "I've just been in Heaven!"

A second Ambassador College in America was located in Big Sandy, Texas. The British based Ambassador College was situated between St Albans and Watford, 21 miles north of London, at Bricket Wood, in the green belt area of Hertfordshire, on the Hanstead House estate previously owned by the millionaire Sir David Yule. Ambassador College, Bricket Wood, opened its doors to British and a variety of international students on October 14, 1960.

The other Ambassador College in America was in Big Sandy, Texas. Both there and at Bricket Wood, experimental farm programs were instituted on the Bible's standards of agriculture and rearing of livestock. The information learnt was shared with interested farmers around the world, free of charge.

Ambassador Colleges were not just places to study the Bible with an exploratory frame of mind, but also places to put its foundational principles into practice. They were environments conducive to positive learning experiences, good character formation, social enrichment, and clean wholesome fun.

A m b a s s a d o r  C o l l e g e s  w e r e  a  u n i q u e  f o r e t a s t e  o f   t h e  W o n d e r f u l  W o r l d  T o m o r r o w
w h i c h  H e r b e r t  W  A r m s t r o n g  p r o p h e s i e d  w o u l d  c o m e.

Mr Armstrong published high quality, visually interesting, beautifully bound, and substantial yearbooks--called "The ENVOY"--which showcased the Ambassador Colleges annually. They are evidence themselves of the fine quality of those institutions.

The Law of God was promoted and faithfully lived by, at these institutions of higher learning, producing harmony, peace, and productive, purposeful lives.

Mr Armstrong was 55 when he started the first Ambassador College in 1947. He was 82 when he finished building it, with the jewel in the Crown City (as Pasadena is also known) campus--the magnificent Ambassador Auditorium, which became world renowned.

Ambassador Auditorium was dedicated "to the Great God". The modern but stately building is made from various items from around the world, symbolizing the global Work of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W Armstrong's supervision.

Among Mr Armstrong's natural gifts, he possessed perfect pitch musically. As a result, Ambassador Auditorium was brilliant acoustically. Mr Armstrong invited many of the world's leading musicians and entertainers to perform at the venue, in a series of memorable concerts.

It's as if God brought the best of the world's best to the House of God, which Elijah built, so that one day in the future, God will have a reference point from which to start dealing with these maestros. For those who die before the Millennium, it will be when they are resurrected immediately thereafter, over 1000 years from now. They too will be astonished to discover that God and his endtime Elijah had touched their lives over a millennium earlier. Imagine the inspired performance to God's glory, which they'll give then!

After coming into contact with the Radio Church of God (later renamed Worldwide Church of God), many people asked for further information about what the Bible really taught. Many questions were already answered in Mr Armstrong's already printed publications. A team of assistants processed the mail and telephone enquiries by sending the appropriate item or information.

More specific questions were answered by the Church's Pasadena headquarters, and regional offices opened in various parts of the world.

The ministry trained at Ambassador Colleges was sent worldwide. Teams of two men together visited tens of thousands of individuals and families in their homes, who requested it, travelling extraordinary distances to do so in some cases.

At it's height the Worldwide Church of God had about 140,000 people in attendance. Every one of them had some interaction with one of the ministers. Besides that were the many more people visited who never progressed to that stage, who were witnessed to.

• H W A  P u b l i s h e d  a  C o m p r e h e n s i v e  B i b l e  C o r r e s p o n d e n c e  C o u r s e

One of Herbert W Armstrong's early associates in the Church, Dr C. Paul Meredith, took detailed notes of his inspired preaching, which became the basis for the Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course.

This Course was sent free upon request, like all the literature of the Church. At one stage it consisted of over 50 lessons. They were largely made up of questions which led the student to Scriptures which proved the major doctrines of the Bible. Students were required to write down their answers and complete a test after every fourth lesson, which was sent to their closest regional office for marking.

More than 2,000,000 people were enrolled in the Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course during Mr Armstrong's ministry. It was one of the most effective tools for bringing people to a good understanding of the Bible, and conversion.

• H W A  P u b l i s h e d  "T h e  G o o d  N e w s"  M a g a z i n e  f o r  C h u r c h  M e m b e r s.

While "The Plain Truth" magazine was directed at the average person in the world, "The Good News" magazine was written for people who had become members of the Worldwide Church of God. It fulfilled the need for an even more in depth understanding of Scripture, once people were committed to the Church's goal of reaching the Kingdom of God.

Like "The Plain Truth" magazine, "The Good News" magazine was edited by Herbert W Armstrong, and also distributed worldwide. At one stage Mr Armstrong also published "Tomorrow's World" magazine. It contained more spiritual material than "The Plain Truth" and was intended especially for Co-Workers who wanted stronger meat. Mr Armstrong wrote regular letters to "The Plain Truth" mailing list and to Co-Workers.

• H W A  P u b l i s h e d  S e v e n  M a j o r  B o o k s  C l a r i f y i n g  T h e  B i b l e' s  M e s s a g e.

Herbert W Armstrong published seven major books, (six of which he wrote), which explained in clear language key doctrines of the Bible. They were all offered free of charge. These were:

1--The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy

[identifying the leading descendants of Israel today,
which provides the key to understanding endtime prophecy].

2--The Human Potential [showing God's ultimate destiny for
mankind].

3--Tomorrow...What It Will Be Like [outlining the nature of
God's coming kingdom, on Earth. This volume was also
published by Everest House, New York, and available through
bookstores].

4--The Missing Dimension in Sex [explaining God's point
of view on the subject].

5--The Autobiography of Herbert W Armstrong [two volumes
revealing how he came to understand the Bible, and
the origins and Work of the Worldwide Church of God
under his direction].

6--The Bible Story [various book length volumes written
and illustrated for children, by Basil Wolverton,
based on Mr Armstrong's teachings, and edited by him].

7--Mystery of the Ages [an overview clarifying the major doctrines
of the Bible in one volume. This summarized Mr Armstrong's
teachings, and was published when he was 93].

• H W A  P u b l i s h e d  a  L i b r a r y  o f  B i b l e  O r i e n t a t e d  B o o k l e t s

Being a prolific writer of clear copy before he even got involved with his mission of announcing the coming Kingdom of God, Mr Armstrong redirected his energies to publishing a veritable library of booklets, which showed the Bible's viewpoint about ancient and modern questions. (He also published booklets and reprinted articles from his magazines, some written by disciples of his). The subjects covered every aspect of Christian interest, including:

All About Water Baptism.

Answers from Genesis.

Are We Living In The LAST DAYS?

A Tale of two Prophets.

A True History of the True Church.

A world held captive.

Christmas--the untold story.

Come Help Humanity!

Coming--A New Age!

CRIME CAN BE STOPPED...here's how!

Did God Create a Devil?

Divorce and Remarriage.

Does God E x i s t ?

Does God heal today?

Do you have an Immortal Soul?

Easter is pagan!

Ending Your Financial Worries.

Famine--Can we survive?

Germany in Prophecy.

Has T i m e Been Lost?

HIPPIES--Hypocrisy and "Happiness".

How often should we partake of The Lord's Supper?

How Religion Deceives You.

How to have a Happy Marriage.

How to Study the Bible.

How to understand Prophecy.

HUMAN NATURE--Did God Create It?

Is God a Trinity?

Is Sex Sin?

Is there a R e a l Hell Fire?

IS THIS THE END TIME?

Lazarus and the Rich Man.

Managing Your Personal Finances.

Modern Dating.

NEVER BEFORE UNDERSTOOD: Why Humanity Cannot Solve Its Evils.

New Facts about Marijuana.

1975 in Prophecy.

Pagan Holidays--or God's Holy Days--Which?

Principles of Healthful Living.

Read the Book.

Seven Proofs of God's True Church.

Sunset to Sunset--God's Sabbath Rest.

Teach your Children About God.

The Bible: Superstition or Authority? --and can you prove it?

The Book of Revelation unveiled at last.

The Christian Sabbath.

THE DILEMMA OF DRUGS.

The Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse.

The White Horse--False Religion.

The Red Horse--War.

The Black Horse--Famine.

The Pale Horse--Disease Epidemics.

The Gospel.

The Key to the Book of Revelation.

The Mark of the Beast.

The Middle East in Prophecy.

The Modern Romans--The Decline of Western Civilization.

The New Feminism...have Women ever R e a l l y Had Their Rights?

The Occult Explosion--What Does it Mean?

The Plain Truth About Child Rearing.

The Plain Truth About Christmas.

The Plain Truth About Easter.

The Plain Truth About Healing.

The Proof of the Bible.

The RESURRECTION was NOT o n S u n d a y !

The Road to Eternal Life.

The Sacred Calendar.

The Seven Laws of Radiant Health.

The Seven Laws of Success.

The 10 Commandments.

The "Tongues" Question.

The Wonderful World Tomorrow.

This is the Worldwide Church of God.

TITHING.

True Womanhood--Is it a 'lost cause'?

Truth About EARTHQUAKES!

Truth A b o u t Makeup.

War and Military Service.

What do you mean--"The Unpardonable Sin"?

What Do You Mean--Born Again?

What Do You Mean--Conversion?

What Do You Mean--Salvation?

What Do You Mean--The Kingdom of God?

What happens after death?

What Is a REAL CHRISTIAN?

What is the TRUE GOSPEL?

What is the Reward of the Saved?

What is Faith?

What is your Destiny?

What kind of Faith is required for S a l v a t i o n ?

What's behind the Energy Crisis?

What Science Can't Discover About the HUMAN MIND.

What will you be doing in the Next Life?

Where are Enoch and Elijah?

Where is God's True Church Today?

Which day is the Christian Sabbath?

Which Day is the SABBATH of the New Testament?

Who is the Beast?

Who or What Is the Prophetic Beast?

Who Was Jesus?

Who will rule Space?

Why Marriage? Soon Obsolete?

Why Were You Born?

World Crisis in Agriculture

World Peace: How Will It Come.

You can quit Smoking.

Your AWESOME FUTURE.

HERBERT W ARMSTRONG FULFILLED THE MISSION OF THE ENDTIME ELIJAH,
COMPREHENSIVELY PREACHING TO HIS CONSTITUENCY--THE MODERN DESCENDANTS OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.
MR ARMSTRONG ALSO BRANCHED OVER THE WALL. ASSISTED BY THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD MINISTERS, HE AND THEY TRAVELLED TO MANY COUNTRIES WHERE PEOPLE REQUESTED A VISIT, SPREADING THE GOSPEL GLOBALLY, AND BAPTIZING AN INTERNATIONAL CONGREGATION OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS,
IN PREPARATION FOR THE COMING KINGDOM OF GOD.

Since God was behind this whole operation, the probability is that Herbert W Armstrong's ministry reached at least some representatives of all 70 of the original nations mentioned in Genesis 10, as a reference point for when God deals with them in the future.

Proof #4: HWA Turned the Heart of the Fathers to the Children,
and Vice-versa

"...E l i j a h...s h a l l  t u r n  t h e  h e a r t  o f  t h e  f a t h e r s 
t o  t h e  c h i l d r e n,  a n d  t h e
h e a r t  o f  t h e  c h i l d r e n  t o  t h e i r  f a t h e r s..."  (Malachi 4:5-6).

In Bible terms, the expression "fathers" refers to the patriarchs of Israel, primarily Abraham, his son Isaac--through whom God's promises would pass--and Jacob, (renamed Israel), whose name and blessings were to be perpetuated through his grandson's Ephraim and Manasseh.

In a genealogical and Bible sense, the term "children" refers to the descendants of Israel, who today are mainly the nations listed at the end of The article identifying the Tribes of Israel today..

The heart of the patriarchs of Israel was set on worshipping the true God. A b r a h a m is the father of those faithful to God, Scripture shows. He is the grand human patriarch of literal Israel, and of those converted from all nations, whom God counts as Spiritual Israel--who comprise the true Church of God.

"...Abraham our father...believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness...reckoned...when he was...[yet]...uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe..."

"...the promise, [was] that he [Abraham] should be the heir of the world...Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall your seed be" (extracts from Romans 4:1-18).

Abraham's son  I s a a c  lived a faithful life, and is a type of the Messiah, who was offered as a sacrifice. I s r a e l fathered the 12 Tribes of Israel, and passed his inheritance and name to his two grandsons,

E p h r a i m  a n d  M a n a s s e h  the ancestors of the Anglo-Saxon English and Americans. The name "Saxons" has been shown to be derived from "Isaac's sons".

Therefore, Elijah in the endtime, was to direct the important God-orientated leanings of the heart of the faithful patriarchs of Israel to their latter-day descendants, chiefly in the British domain and the United States of America.

This is precisely what Herbert W Armstrong did.

In a description of John the Baptist, who was a type of the endtime Elijah, an angel delivered this message from Heaven:

"...many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he [John the Baptist] shall go before him [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elias [Elijah], to turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:16-17).

This is exactly what Herbert W Armstrong did on a much larger and worldwide scale--as the endtime Elijah--that John typified.

The latter-day Elijah's turning of the heart of the children, or descendants, of Israel to their patriarchal forefathers involves their repentance to God. Repentance is the process whereby sinners--and all have sinned and come short of the glory of God--turn around and start walking God's way.

The procedure of repentance, which the patriarchs of Israel followed when God called them, would be what Elijah would cause the endtime descendants of Israel to duplicate.

In doing so, one of the Ten Commandments they would abide by, would be the Fifth Commandment. Its instruction to honor one's father and mother would result in these descendants of Israel also turning their heart to their own literal fathers:

"Honour your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God giveth you" (Exodus 20:12).

Many of those called during Mr Armstrong's ministry were only children, or rebellious teenagers, when they first heard him, including this author. When they later got married, many of their children also had their heart turned to their literal fathers.

Whatever the age of the others called into the Church, plenty were also influenced to turn their heart to their literal fathers.

Naturally these things did not happen literally in every instance. Jesus foretold that there would be tares amongst the wheat, and that the Devil would snatch away the good Word of God sown amongst some who were genuine.

The Apostle Paul showed how God considers that "...the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy" (1 Corinthians 7:14).

In other words, children with one (or both) parents converted, are considered by God to be of special importance to him. Therefore, this must be the time God is working with them. There's no guarantee there'll be another opportunity if they reject this one.

Since the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable, should any of these endtime children become unholy by departing from God's way of life, it stands to reason that God may be compelled to allow them to be punished in the Great Tribulation, in order to alert them to the reality that their privileged status has to be taken seriously if they are to enter the Kingdom of God.

A n y o n e   w h o   g e n u i n e l y   r e p e n t s   a s   a   r e s u l t
o f   H e r b e r t   W   A r m s t r o n g' s   m i n i s t r y,   w h o   i s   o f
I s r a e l i t i s h   s t o c k,   h a s   t h e i r   h e a r t   t u r n e d   t o
t h a t   o f   t h e i r   p a t r i a r c h a l   f a t h e r s,   a s   t h e
p r o p h e c y   f o r e t o l d !

Some of the children who have forsaken the way of God, after being taught it by their parents, are bound to yet turn their heart to their literal and patriarchal fathers in the faith, as a result of the coming Tribulation. The game is not over, as their generation might say. God's purpose for them will be fulfilled, or forfeited to someone else.

Herbert W Armstrong turned the heart of the fathers to the children--and vice-versa--both physically and literally, and spiritually and symbolically. He himself had a successful marriage of almost 50 years, and spoke and wrote a great deal about marriage and the traditional family consisting of father, mother and children.

Mr Armstrong published various booklets on the subject, such as "How to Have a Happy Marriage", "The Plain Truth About Child Rearing", and implemented programs, which strengthened marriage and parent/child relationships. This included having local ministers give sermons and advice on these subjects.

This author can personally testify that after coming into contact with Mr Armstrong's teachings, as a 15-year old rebel, my relationship with my parents improved dramatically.

Most of the students of the three Ambassador Colleges were youngsters of Israelitish background, who were taught the principles of good family relationships in the compulsory Principles of Living class, which Mr Armstrong personally taught, including at the British campus where this author studied.

Furthermore, Mr Armstrong also founded Imperial (Grade and High) Schools for pre-College students. These emphasized respect for parents, teachers, elders in general, and God and his Law above all.

Mr Armstrong continually pointed out that God's Law, is a law of love. "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3).

Ambassador Clubs at the Colleges were replicated around the world in local congregations of the Worldwide Church of God, under the name Spokesman Club. Among other things, these Clubs taught, mainly young men, the art of public speaking; leadership in and respect for constituted authority in the home, Church, and society.

And, how to apply God's Law, with love, in their families. These were an improved version of the famous Toastmasters Clubs. They were later expanded to co-educational Teen Clubs.

Besides this, Mr Armstrong instituted the Worldwide Church of God's

S u m m e r  E d u c a t i o n  P r o g r a m,  or SEP, in various countries.

Based on the concept of American summer camps, these yearly, usually three-week long experiences were jam-packed with top-class outdoor activities, wholesome social opportunities, and Bible-based family orientated education. The main Orr, Minnesota SEP site in America, alone benefited over 30,000 youngsters who participated over a period of 35 years, according to Floyd and Mardell Kielczewski who lived and worked at the camp for many years, (reported "The Journal" June 30, 2002. SEP was also held in the UK, South Africa, Australia, and elsewhere.

In addition, Mr Armstrong published "Youth" magazine. It was an interesting, high-quality, full-color, well-written, professionally produced periodical, aimed at helping youngsters successfully deal with family life and life in general, according to Bible principles and Law.

Mr Armstrong further published Bible orientated lessons with tests--similar to the Correspondence Course--suitable for different aged children, which youngsters completed in conjunction with their parents.

All these innovations of Herbert W Armstrong brought practical improvement and love into many families who sensibly applied what he taught.

By preaching the need to obey the Fifth Commandment of God to honor one's parents, this endtime Elijah influenced many of the descendants of Israel to improve this relationship.

The prophecy did not promise every father/child division would be reconciled. Cases where this did not happen cannot annul the fact that Herbert W Armstrong turned the heart of many of the endtime fathers and children in Israel, to each other--as no-one else did in the 20th Century, or since--and as the endtime Elijah was prophesied to do.

Herbert W Armstrong symbolically turned the heart of the patriarchs of Israel--including Abraham, Moses, and David--and literally turned the heart of the genuine Jesus, and the Grand Patriarch of all, God the Father--to many of the descendants of Israel.

Over two million individuals subscribed to the "Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course"; over eight million subscribed to--and perhaps 30 million read--"The Plain Truth" magazine every month; countless millions heard and watched "The World Tomorrow" radio and TV broadcasts.

At the height of his mission people contributed $200,000,000 a year to further Herbert W Armstrong's preaching of the true Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God. That money did not all come from his own baptized Church members, who were always less than 100,000 strong.

The fruits of Herbert W Armstrong's efforts in this direction, corroborate that he was the endtime Elijah. He did make a people ready for the Lord. Through him God revived the true Church, whereby the descendants of Israel in the endtime could receive the Holy Spirit. Receipt of God's Spirit is essential for anyone to be resurrected from the dead to immortality; or to be changed if alive at Christ's return, into an immortal child of God.

While Jesus did say that John the Baptist was a prototype of the endtime Elijah, he also specifically said that another--the endtime Elijah--was coming to restore all things--said it after John was dead; and indicated, therefore, that there would first have to be a falling away from everything Jesus taught, before Elijah's major restoration was necessary.

"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples...Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some [say] John the Baptist: some, Elias [Elijah]; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets."

Notice that Christ's answer denies that he is any of these men. It's a clear denial that he was Elijah.

"He says to them, But whom say you that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed [it] to you, but my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 16:13-17).

Because the original Elijah was taken away miraculously by a flying chariot "into heaven", some believe he will return in the endtime, as they believe he is still alive. (See 2 Kings 2:9-10). One of Mr Armstrong's early booklets showed why that notion is not Scriptural.

The Bible talks of three heavens: The atmosphere around the Earth; the realm of the planets and stars; and God's Heaven, where he resides. We've already seen that Jesus revealed no human has been that to that Heaven.

About 10 years a f t e r Elijah's trip in the flying chariot, he wrote a warning letter to King Jehoram of Judah. (See 2 Chronicles 21:1-20, noting verse 12). Elijah was still on Earth. His flying chariot trip must have been much like an airline flight through the atmosphere of this planet. He was merely transferred from one place to another for God's purposes.

"...it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). When the time came, the original Elijah died. He is not in Heaven today. Nor is any other human, other than the resurrected Jesus who temporarily came in the flesh, then returned, glorified, to Heaven.

NO OTHER MAN IN THE ENDTIME HAS EXCEEDED OR PRECEDED HERBERT W ARMSTRONG’S ACHIEVEMENT, OF FULFILLING MALACHI’S PROPHECY REGARDING THE TURNING OF THE HEART OF THE PATRIARCHS OF ISRAEL AND THEIR DESCENDANTS TO EACH OTHER.

This is further proof that Herbert W Armstrong is the endtime Elijah.

Proof #5:  HWA Promoted the law of Moses
as The Endtime Elijah Must

"R e m e m b e r  y o u  t h e  l a w  o f  M o s e s  m y
s e r v a n t,  w h i c h  I  c o m m a n d e d  u n t o  h i m
i n  H o r e b  f o r  a l l  I s r a e l,  [ w i t h ]  t h e
s t a t u t e s  a n d  j u d g m e n t s.  B e h o l d  I
w i l l  s e n d  y o u  E l i j a h  t h e  p r o p h e t
b e f o r e  t h e  c o m i n g  o f  t h e  g r e a t  a n d
d r e a d f u l  d a y  o f  t h e  L O R D"  (Malachi 4:4-5).

Falling in the context of his promise to send the endtime Elijah, God's reminder to remember his Law, has to be a key component of the message of that prophet.

As the American news analyst and broadcaster Ted Koppel once pointed out, the headline news of any day usually revolves around infractions of the Ten Commandments. They are a living, invisible force, that when transgressed exact an automatic penalty.

The Law of Moses is actually the Law of God, which the Creator revealed through him, on Mount Sinai, codified in Ten Commandments, listed in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.

The statutes and judgments based on the Ten Commandments are found in the rest of Exodus, and the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. They, and the Ten Commandments were for all Israel--whose descendants are listed at the end of The article identifying the Tribes of Israel today.. It was not just for the Jews, the Tribe of Judah. Technically Moses wasn't even a Jew, he was of the Tribe of Levi:

"These [are] the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram. And the name of Amram's wife [was] Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom [her mother] bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister" (Numbers 26:58-59).

The Law given through Moses is God's Law, which regulates the affairs of all men, whether they are aware of it, or not.

As Jesus Christ's closest human friend, the Apostle John, was inspired to write: "Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for
s i n  i s  t h e  t r a n s g r e s s i o n  o f   t h e  l a w"  o f  G o d  (1 John 3:4).

Christ himself said: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19).

T h e  e n d t i m e  E l i j a h,  t h e r e f o r e,  h a s  t o  b e  s o m e o n e  w h o  p r o m o t e s  G o d' s  L a w.

He can't be any of the numerous 'Christian' leaders who erroneously claim that Christ did away with the Law of God. That notion is even more absurd than claiming George Washington or Abraham Lincoln did away with the American Constitution, or that Winston Churchill did away with the British Parliament.

Christ went on to say, in the same context, "...I say to you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20).

In other words, the endtime Elijah would not be someone who promoted the traditional Jewish Pharisees' view of the Law of Moses--with all their added man-made restrictions. He had to be someone who understood and taught  t h e  s p i r i t  o f  t h e  L a w, as Christ did, because he was inspired by and infused with the Holy Spirit of God.

This involves the literal meaning of the Law of God, but also the intent of the Law. As Jesus explained, the 7th Commandment that forbids adultery also forbids even illegal desire--or lust--to sin in this way (Matthew 5:27-32).

Turning the hearts of the fathers of Israel to their descendants and vice-versa, involves preaching the Law of God, which the patriarchs upheld.

This is the identical Law of God, which Jesus said he did not come to do away with. The same Law that God gave to Moses to teach ancient Israel. The very Law which God punished Israel for not keeping, by evicting them from the Promised Land, and withholding his promises of inheritance to them for 2520 years.

I t  i s  t h e  p r e c i s e  L a w  which  H e r b e r t  W  A r m s t r o n g  r e s t o r e d  in the momentous 20th Century of increased knowledge and extensive running to and fro, which the Book of Daniel prophesied would characterize the endtime. The only Law which can genuinely turn the patriarchal and latter-day Israelites hearts to each other.

The power to fully obey God's Law in its spiritual intent is not possible without having God's Spirit. God's Spirit is only given to those who obey him. That power was given to the Hebrew prophets. It was the force through which God inspired them. Through Jesus Christ, this power became more widely available through the Church of God which he started, as this description in Acts 2 shows:

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And  t h e y  w e r e  a l l  f i l l e d  w i t h  t h e  H o l y S p i r i t... ...this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh..."

Like many prophecies this one has more than one fulfillment.

The original 120 disciples of Jesus and about 3000 others--many from the Diaspora of Israel visiting

Jerusalem to observe the Day of Pentecost--received the Holy Spirit on that first New Covenant Holy Day.

It's unlikely that this 1^st Century, first era, of the true Church of God, ever grew to anything like the size of the endtime penultimate era of the Church which Herbert W Armstrong established worldwide, using modern communications methods and global travel.

The 20th Century experience has been that once the Prophet or Apostle whom God sends, is taken away, his people have little power. The same thing happened in the 1st Century Church of God.

However, an even greater pouring out of the Holy Spirit yet seen is prophesied for the near future. Revelation 7 describes 144,000--12,000 from each of the literal Tribes of Israel--who will be sealed with the Holy Spirit before the Day of the LORD, and before the Messiah's arrival.

Note the list of Tribes in Revelation 7 cites Joseph--and Manasseh.

This gives the Tribe of Joseph, a double portion and blessing, in fulfillment of the promises made.

"...t h e  b i r t h r i g h t  w a s  J o s e p h 's "  (1 Chronicles 5:1-2). The Law of God stated "...acknowledge the...the firstborn [son], by giving him  a  d o u b l e  p o r t i o n  of all...the right of the firstborn [is] his" (Deuteronomy 21:17). God said: "...I am a father to Israel, and
E p h r a i m [ i s ] m y  f i r s t -b o r n" (Jeremiah 31:9).

Ephraim--the modern day English people--the chief descendants of the Tribe of Joseph, will with his brother Manasseh--the Anglo-Saxon Americans--each receive one of the territories for the 12 Tribes in the Kingdom of God. This gives the Tribe of Joseph a d o u b l e - p o r t i o n over the other Tribes--including Judah--in their future inheritance of the Promised Land. However, the Messiah and David who will be King of Israel under him, and at least most of the 12 Apostles who will be over the separate Tribes in the Kingdom of God, will be of the Tribe of Judah.

This also corresponds with the fact that the majority of baptized members and co-workers in the Church which Herbert W Armstrong raised, were of American and English stock. Mr Armstrong  p r o p h e s i e d  that greater fruit would be produced from his Work, when the pressure of the Tribulation is on those who heard him during peace time.

This also partly explains why Satan has inflamed human hatred against the Chosen People. The Kingdom of God is going to end the Devil's morally bankrupt rule over the Earth, so he's trying--in vain--to prevent its realization, by killing off its potential leaders.

The Tribe of Dan is omitted from the list in Revelation 7. Anciently Dan was situated in the North of Israel, and tended to be the first of the Tribes to be influenced negatively by the adjacent pagans. The Tribe of Dan today is no different. It is more influenced by Roman religion than the other Tribes. Moses prophesied of this in his outline of what would happen to the Tribes:

"Dan...as one of the tribes of Israel...[shall say]..."I have waited for your salvation, O LORD" (Genesis 49:16-18). Eventually they will receive it, after national repentance.

The 144,000 in Revelation 7 are literal descendants of the Tribes of Israel.

They are not to be confused with the 144,000 in Revelation 14. Those 144,000 have become immortal. (See Chapter 19).

Mr Armstrong located the endtime remnant of the spiritual descendants of the 1st Century congregation which had been recipients of the Holy Spirit. From the start of his ministry in 1931 he taught the Law of God, attracting people God called, who learning to obey God's Law, were given his Holy Spirit too.

N o - o n e  m o r e  v i g o r o u s l y  p r o m o t e d  t h e  L a w  o f  G o d  w h i c h  G o d  g a v e  t h r o u g h  M o s e s,  t o  t h e  2 0 t h
C e n t u r y  d e s c e n d a n t s  o f  t h e  T r i b e s  o f  I s r a e l,  t h a n  d i d  H e r b e r t  W  A r m s t r o n g ! ! !

This is further proof that he is the endtime Elijah.

Herbert W Armstrong did not promote a pharisaical liturgy of do's and don'ts, such as some of those who sat in Moses' seat did in the time of Jesus.

Mr Armstrong's approach was:

"God's law is spiritual and can be summed up in one simple but all-inclusive word--love...love toward God and love toward neighbor. These, in turn, are subdivided into the 10 Commandments. Jesus magnified this law by showing its principle expands to cover virtually every possible human infraction".

"...this law of God produces peace, happiness, co-operation through obedience" (Mystery of the Ages, hardcover p51).

Herbert W Armstrong observed the 7th day of the week  S a b b a t h  from the beginning of his ministry--as did Jesus Christ--which God instituted from Creation; which God reminded Moses and Israel of at Mount Sinai; and which God will require be kept in the Millennium (which it symbolizes).

Herbert W Armstrong also observed and taught more 20th Century descendants of Israel than anyone, to keep--with understanding--the 7 annual Sabbaths or  H o l y  D a y s  of God, which Moses listed in Leviticus 23. That could not have been done on the scale he did it since Bible times, and may be unequalled in all history. Certainly no-one else managed this on the global scale that Mr Armstrong did.

The 8-day long, annual Feasts of Tabernacles, which Herbert W Armstrong arranged to be kept by tens of thousands of people worldwide, for decades, must at their height have constituted one of the largest, most organized, best understood, and most continuously held such gatherings of this festival of God in all of Israel's existence.

Few leaders  e v e r  could match this record alone. What other claimant to the title "endtime Elijah" has done more?

None of the Gentile religions have ever produced a leader who could possibly be this prophet. The largest of the Western world's religions, Roman Catholicism--and its Protestant daughters--do not observe these Feasts commanded by God, through Moses. The endtime Elijah could not, therefore, be someone practising what they preach.

"The Golden Bough" by Sir James Frazer, and "The Two Babylons" by Alexander Hislop, a former Roman Catholic Bishop, trace the pagan origins of various of the festivals which these religions observe today--such as Xmas and Easter.

The bulk of churches claiming to be Christian today believe that Jesus did away with God's Law, "nailing it to the cross". What was nailed to the stake was the literal body of Jesus. His death paid the price for our transgression of God's Law, or our sins.

"...the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Since "...all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)--every human is guilty of breaking God's Law, and therefore is sentenced to death. That is why mankind needs a real Savior.

The only person qualified, and appointed by God, to that position is Jesus his Son--the Messiah--who died though he lived a perfect life as God in the flesh, in order to redeem humanity.

The closest human friend of Jesus, the God-inspired Apostle John stated:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made...And  t h e W o r d  w a s  m a d e  f l e s h,  a n d  d w e l t  a m o n g  u s, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:1-3,14).

This verse also confirms that it was the pre-existent Jesus who created everything, and dealt with ancient Israel as the LORD of the Hebrew Scriptures.

"...God said, Let u s [plural] make man in o u r [plural] image, after o u r [plural] likeness..." (Genesis 1:26).

The Hebrew word for God in this verse is "Elohim"--which like the English word "family" describes one unit consisting of more than one member. God is a family, Mr Armstrong pointed out.

Jesus "...is the head of the...church...the  f i r s t b o r n  from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the pre-eminence" (Colossians 1:18). The firstborn we've seen is entitled to a double inheritance. Being the firstborn implies that there will be other children in the family of God, who are born in the same way as Jesus was. That is, they will be born again, this time immortal. No-one else at this stage is born again in that manner. It will not happen until the Second Coming of the real Jesus.

Writing to genuine Spirit of God filled Christians, the Apostle John said, "...now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear,  w e  s h a l l  b e  l i k e  h i m; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).

The Word (later born in the flesh as Jesus, partly so that he could die to pay for man's sins), was the actual Creator of humanity--and, therefore, worth more than what he created. That's why his one death was a price more costly than every human who'll ever live. No-one else could make such a sacrifice. No father could give up a more worthy son. This sacrifice was literally priceless.

"Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of  J e s u s  C h r i s t  of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead...This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for  t h e r e  i s  n o n e  o t h e r  n a m e  u n d e r  h e a v e n  given among men, w h e r e b y  w e  m u s t  b e  s a v e d"  (Acts 4:10-12).

T h e  e n d t i m e  E l i j a h  w o u l d  n o t  o n l y  h a v e  t o  p r o m o t e  t h e  L a w  o f  M o s e s,  h e  w o u l d  h a v e  t o
a l s o  p r o m o t e  t h e  n a m e  o f  J e s u s  C h r i s t,  a s  t h e  M e s s i a h  a n d  S a v i o r.

THOSE TWO REQUIREMENTS ELIMINATE MOST JEWISH OR CHRISTIAN CLAIMANTS TO THE TITLE “ENDTIME ELIJAH”.

H e r b e r t  W  A r m s t r o n g,  h o w e v e r,  f u l f i l l e d
b o t h  o f  t h e s e  r e q u i s i t e s  s u p e r a b u n d a n t l y.
G o d  s a w  t o  i t  t h a t  h e  w a s  b o t h
g e n u i n e l y  J e w i s h  a n d  g e n u i n e l y  C h r i s t i a n.

Mr Armstrong showed that Jesus Christ did not die to make us free to break God's Law. That would only increase our sin, and sin is the cause of Christ's death. Jesus died to free us from the penalty of eternal death which breaking God's Law earns.

Jesus died in our stead. His blood covers our sins--obliterates our transgressions of the Ten Commandments, and their spiritual ramifications--but this only takes effect when we repent.

Christ's death wipes the slate of past sins clean. Animal sacrifices foreshadowed this--but could never actually accomplish what Christ's priceless sacrifice did. Furthermore, we are saved by his resurrection to life. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Romans 5:10).

Ancient Israel and Judah were capable of obeying the letter of God's Law. They did so under several of their Kings. However, Mr Armstrong showed they were not capable of keeping God's Law in its spiritual intent, because they had no general access to God's Spirit. The Apostle Paul clarifies the issue:

"...to be carnally [fleshly, or naturally] minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal [normal] mind [is] enmity against God: ...it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:6-9).

The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit of God, the only force that can empower the human mind to understand the spiritual things of God and his Law. The prophet Jeremiah foretold of the future time when:

"Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will make  a  n e w  c o v e n a n t  with  t h e  h o u s e  o f  I s r a e l, and with  t h e  h o u s e  o f  J u d a h:  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them...out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake...But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel... says the LORD,  I  W I L L  P U T  M Y  L A W  I N  T H E I R   I NW A R D  P A R T S,  A N D  W R I T E  I T  I N  T H E I R  H E A R T S;   and will be their God, and they shall be my people...I will remember their sin no more" (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

The only way this is possible is for access to God's Holy Spirit to be generally available to the Houses of Israel and Judah. This will start, on a national level, with the 144,000 from the various Tribes of Israel, mentioned in Revelation 7.

In this context, God challenges both false religious claimants to the title of "Israel" and atheistic scientists: "Thus says the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says the LORD" (Jeremiah 31:37).

To be a genuine Christian, (or Spiritual Israelite), one has to have the genuine Holy Spirit of God. This cannot be faked, bought, or manufactured. It is a gift that comes only from God. As the Apostle Peter testified: "...we are his witnesses of these things; and [so is] also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey him" (Acts 5:32).

This obedience involves not only remembering the Law of Moses (which is really God's Law), but keeping God's Law according to the spiritual purpose God intended--of showing outgoing love towards God above all, and showing love to your fellow humans.

This was one of the main themes of Herbert W Armstrong.

The tendency of many in the Tribe of Judah has been to acknowledge the Law of Moses in a literal sense, but then build a hedge of humanly devised laws encircling God's Law, creating an unnecessarily heavy burden. Jesus pointed this out to the scribes and Pharisees of his day, in no uncertain terms; see Matthew 23. A review of the current orthodox list of do's and don'ts, which Jews are expected to observe to keep the Sabbath, is proof that things haven't changed much since the time of Jesus.

The tendency of "Protestants" is to embrace "another Jesus" who they say did away with the Law of Moses, contrary to what the real Jesus taught.

The tendency of Roman Catholics is to place their traditions above Scripture, and claim the promises to Israel now apply to them. In effect they deny the Law of Moses and deny the Law-of-God-obedient 1st Century Jerusalem Church that Jesus Christ started.

History records that the Roman Catholic Church has at various times tried to destroy the Bible, Jews, and Law-of-God-keeping genuine Christians. Catholicism was the religious force behind the previous six resurrections of the so-called Holy Roman Empire. They will be the religious force behind its seventh resurrection--a United Europe--which Herbert W Armstrong predicted in the first  W o r l d  T o m o r r o w  radio broadcast, and in the first  P l a i n  T r u t h  magazine in 1934.

This is further evidence that Herbert W Armstrong is the endtime prophet Elijah.

Besides the weekly 7th-day of the week Sabbath, (which actually runs from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), the Law of Moses--contained in a wider sense in the first five books of the Bible--includes 7 annual Holy Days which God commanded Israel to keep throughout its generations, forever.

How many of the Israelitish nations listed at the end of The article identifying the Tribes of Israel today. are keeping these Holy Days of God today? How many of the citizens of those nations even know they are legislated in Leviticus 23?

N o - o n e  i n  m o d e r n  B r i t i s h,  A m e r i c a n,  o r
J e w i s h  h i s t o r y,  h a s  t a u g h t  m o r e  d e s c e n d a n t s
o f  I s r a e l  ( a n d  o t h e r s )  t o  o b s e r v e  A L L  t h e
H o l y  D a y s  o f  G o d,  w i t h  u n d e r s t a n d i n g  o f
t h e i r  m e a n i n g,  m o r e  t h a n  H e r b e r t  A r m s t r o n g !

Further proof that he is the endtime Elijah.

Here is a summary of those 7 Holydays, which are calculated according to the Bible-based Hebrew Calendar.

• T h e P a s s o v e r (on the evening starting 14 Nisan):

"And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover. And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel" (Numbers 9:4-5). Even Orthodox Jews today don't keep the Passover when Moses did, they keep it on the fifteenth of Nisan, showing how few people keep it correctly.

Strictly speaking this is not a Holy Day but a sacred evening memorial, which precedes the 7 Holy Days. Originally it pictured Israel's deliverance from Egypt. In New Covenant symbolism, ancient Egypt is a type of sin, with Pharaoh representing Satan in his dogged determination not to release his captives. Jesus said the Passover is a memorial of his own death. His shed blood covers the sins of the repentant who accept him as Savior.

"...the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you:  t h i s  d o  i n  r e m e m b r a n c e  o f  m e. After the same manner also [he took] the cup [of red wine], when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do you, as oft as you drink [it], in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do  s h e w  t h e L o r d' s  d e a t h  till he come" (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Also see Leviticus 23:5 and Matthew 26:26-29). This ceremony is only observed once a year.

• T h e  F e a s t  o f  U n l e a v e n e d  B r e a d

This festival lasts 7 days--the first and last day being Holy Days. God forbids normal work being done on his Holy Days. The Feast of Unleavened Bread revolves around eating no leavened bread or other leavened products during the period. Unleavened bread (matzos) is eaten with meals each day. Leavened bread contains a rising agent which puffs it up, symbolic of sin and pride. Eating unleavened bread for 7 days symbolizes putting sin completely out of one's life, picturing the kind of life Jesus the Messiah lived. (See Leviticus 23:6-8; Matthew 26:18-19; Acts 20:6).

• T h e  F e a s t  o f  P e n t e c o s t

Pentecost is also known as the Feast of Firstfruits, because it occurs around the time of the Spring, small first harvest, in the Holyland (Leviticus 23:9-22; Exodus 23:16; Acts 2:1-21; 20;16; 1 Corinthians 16:8).

The Jews believe God gave Moses the Law on the Day of Pentecost. In New Covenant terms Pentecost symbolizes the coming of the Holy Spirit, which writes the Law of God on the hearts and minds of converts.

The Holy Spirit helps the small amount of Firstfruits grow ripe for harvesting. They are plucked by the Messiah, in the First general Resurrection to eternal life, at his Second Coming.

The very symbolism of the event shows there will be relatively few people made immortal in the First Resurrection. Revelation 14 indicates there'll only be 144,000: Those who have remained faithful to God's calling, from the time of Abel to the end of the time of God's Two Witnesses (Matthew 23:35; Revelation 11).

• T h e  F e a s t  o f  T r u m p e t s

This Holy Day occurs at the start of the main Autumn harvest, introducing the other festivals held at that time. The ancient Kings of Israel counted the start of their reigns from the Feast of Trumpets, which also symbolizes the day Jesus Christ will return to commence reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords. (See Leviticus 23:23-25; Matthew 24:30-31; Revelation 11:15).

"...the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump[et] of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The Book of Revelation shows the sequence of events that lead up to Christ's return. They are portrayed as 7 Seals which only Jesus can open, revealing False Prophets, War, Famine, Pestilence, Great Tribulation, Heavenly Signs. The 7th Seal consists of 7 Trumpets, the last of which has 7 Final Plagues--which seem to occur in the 24 hours of the Messiah's arrival, which starts with the sound of the 7th Trumpet being blown.

One author, who specialized in studying the Book of Revelation, found that more books have been written about it than any other book in the Bible. Of course, they all disagree with each other. There can only be one correct explanation of the prophecy, and Herbert W Armstrong's makes more sense than any, because he (a) allowed Christ to interpret the book's symbols, and (b) because he understood the overall Plan of God, which can only be done by observing a l l the Holy Days of God, enlightened by the Holy Spirit as to their meaning.

H e r b e r t  W  A r m s t r o n g' s  r e s t o r a t i o n  o f  B i b l e  T r u t h  i n c l u d e d  u n v e i l i n g  t h e  m e a n i n g  o f
t h e  B o o k  o f  R e v e l a t i o n,  a t  l a s t.   T h a t  w a s  n o t  p o s s i b l e  i n  a n y  p r e v i o u s  e r a  o f  t h e  C h u r c h,  s i n c e 
t h e  k e y s  t o  o p e n  i t -- i n  t h e  B o o k  o f  D a n i e l  --  w e r e  s h u t  u n t i l  t h e  e n d t i m e !

Since no-one preceded him in coming to this knowledge, and teaching it to Israel, and others worldwide, it is further proof that Herbert W Armstrong was the endtime Elijah.

• T h e  D a y  o f  A t o n e m e n t

The Passover pictured Christ's shed blood atoning for our individual past sins. Atonement means to "cover" (the sins) or be "reconciled" with (God or God with the sinner). The Day of Atonement symbolizes the reconciliation of all Israel and all humanity with God--by removing sin and its author, Satan.

"...the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Addressing genuine Christians, the Apostle Paul stated, "...in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, [Satan] the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2).

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]" (Ephesians 6:12).

"...the Devil...Satan...deceives the whole world: he was cast out [of heaven] into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation 12:9).

In Hebrew Scripture symbolism, the high priest selected two goats which he presented before God on the Day of Atonement. (See Leviticus 16). One was slain, which Mr Armstrong showed symbolizes the slain Jesus. The other had the sins of Israel laid on his head, and was lead into the wilderness to wander. The second goat, called Azazel, symbolizes Satan--the real author of sin. When Christ returns, he will have Satan and his demons imprisioned for the duration of the Millennium. That's what the Day of Atonement pictures.

"...I [the Apostle John] saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and S a t a n, and  b o u n d  him a  t h o u s a n d  y e a r s,  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season" (Revelation 20:1-3).

Complete at-one-ment between God and man cannot take place until Satan is removed.

The Day of Atonement is observed by fasting completely--going without all food and water for 24 hours--as a symbol of humility and repentance before God.

In ancient Israel, the High Priest went o n c e a year only, into the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle of God. That was on the Day of Atonement. He took the blood of the slain goat there, to the mercy seat, which symbolized God's Throne. In New Covenant symbolism this pictures Christ approaching the throne of God the Father on behalf of repentant sinners.

"But C h r i s t being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but  b y  h i s  o w n  b l o o d  h e  e n t e r e d  i n  o n c e  i n t o  t h e  h o l y     p l a c e, h a v i n g  o b t a i n e d  e t e r n a l  r e d e m p t i o n [for us]".

"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:11-15; compare with Leviticus 16:15-19).

When Christ died, the massive curtain covering the entrance to the Holy of Holies was ripped in two, from top to bottom. It dramatically demonstrated that Christ's sacrifice now allowed access to God's Throne. (See Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38).

Acts 27:9 shows that over 30 years after Jesus died, and was resurrected, the early New Testament Church still observed the commanded Holy Day fast on the Day of Atonement.

Herbert W Armstrong restored Day of Atonement observance in the Church of God worldwide, as the endtime Elijah would be expected to.

• T h e  F e a s t  o f  T a b e r n a c l e s

The 7-day Autumn Feast of Tabernacles symbolically portrays the later large main harvest of Israel, which Christ will cultivate in the 1000-year Millennium. Once Israel is back on track, then the other nations of the world which have envied, sometimes even despised, the modern descendants of Israel, will begin to comprehend that the solution to their problems, and their spiritual salvation depends on following the lead of God's Chosen People, under the Messiah.

The Chosen People of God are not just the Tribe of Judah--but all 12 Tribes of Israel, as listed at the end of The article identifying the Tribes of Israel today.. They are called "Chosen" because they were chosen by God to set the example, to the other nations, of living his way of life.

This they haven't yet succeeded in doing, but after national chastisement and repentance, they will succeed during the Millennium, in a time of universal peace and prosperity for all nations. It will be the time of the reign of Christ and his 144,000 resurrected-to-immortality prophets and saints.

Israel was chosen because their ancestor Abraham obeyed God as no-one else did (Genesis 26:4-5). The other nations have no legitimate cause for complaint.

During the Messiah's Millennium: "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for  t h e  e a r t h  s h a l l  b e  f u l l  o f  t h e           k n o w l e d g e  o f  t h e L O R D,  a s  t h e  w a t e r s  c o v e r  t h e  s e a.   And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, [the glorified Jesus] which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious" (Isaiah 11:6-10).

God the Father is going to send his firstborn Son, the glorified Jesus, to Jerusalem--to rule the world. He will ensure that Jerusalem is the undivided perpetual capital of all Israel. There'll be no Philistines there after that, literally or metaphorically.

The Jews will recognize that the all-powerful, Spirit Being Messiah--who came to Earth as the human Jesus--and keeps the Law of Moses, and who literally saves their nation from destruction, is their Messiah.

Jeremiah foretold there is still going to be a greater Exodus than in Moses' time--A SECOND EXODUS of descendants of Israel from around the world--who will go back to the Promised Land.

"...behold, the days come, says the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD lives, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD lives, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries where I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land" (Jeremiah 23:7-8).

God is going to heal the breach between the House of Israel and the House of Judah--something that has never happened since they split after King Solomon's death, and give them access to his Holy Spirit.

"Thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which [is] in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, [even] with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand".

"And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of  I s r a e l;  and one king shall be king to them all: and they  s h a l l  b e
n o  m o r e  t w o  n a t i o n s,  neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all" (Ezekiel 37:19,22).

"And it shall come to pass i n t h e l a s t d a y s, [that] the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. And many people shall go and say, Come you, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob [Israel]; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for  o u t  o f  Z i o n  s h a l l  g o f o r t h  t h e  l a w [which God has never done away with], and the word of  t h e L O R D  f r o m  J e r u s a l e m.  And he shall judge among the nations, and  s h a l l  r e b u k e  m a n y  p e o p l e: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2:2-4).

The only solution to the Middle East crisis is going to prove to be the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus the Son of God, whose world government will rule from Jerusalem. There will be no Palestinian state in the New Israel.

"And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem [to fight the Jews, and the Messiah] shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and  t o  k e e p  t h e  f e a s t  o f                   t a b e r n a c l e s" --which has never been done away with by God (Zechariah 14:16).

Just as Herbert W Armstrong did on a smaller scale, the Messiah is going to restore observance of the Feast of Tabernacles--eventually worldwide. Any nation refusing will be punished by God withholding rain in due season (Zechariah 14:17-19). This shows the seriousness with which God views the keeping of his Feasts, and how important Herbert W Armstrong's restoration of them was. This is another sign that he is the endtime Elijah.

The pattern in the Bible--starting with Adam and Eve--is consistent. God first reveals his Law to whoever he is working with; then allows time to put that way of life into practice; before allowing Satan to test whether they really love God. At the end of the Millennium, God will allow Satan out of his prison for a short while to test the mettle of Earth's inhabitants.

If people during the Millennium only live a normal 70-80 year lifespan, only the last generation will be compelled to discern between God's way and Satan's deceptions, as Satan won't be around during those 1000 years.

Since all people born in the Millennium, when resurrected, will be an important tier in the structure of God's growing immortal family, it seems necessary [to this author] that they are all capable of spotting and resisting Satan's methods.

It would fit the pattern if those born in the Millennium all lived to its conclusion, and Satan tempted all.

Therefore, this author concludes that Christ's restitution of all things may include restoring human lifespan to 1000 years. The ages of Adam and his descendants before the Flood in Noah's time, were close to 1000 years. Thereafter they were reduced dramatically. If so, only those born in the first year of the Millennium will actually live 1000 years. Every following year, those born would live a year less than those born in the previous year.

After living in the best conditions any humans have, during the Messiah's  W o n d e r f u l  W o r l d  T o m o r r o w,  those who genuinely love God, his way of life, and Law, will not be deceived by Satan's offer of an alternate lifestyle.

"And when the thousand years are expired,  S a t a n  shall be  l o o s e d  out of his prison, And shall go out  t o  d e c e i v e  the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city [Jerusalem]: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And  t h e  d e v i l  t h a t  d e c e i v e d  t h e m  was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [were thrown], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:7-10).

The overwhelming majority of people in Christ's Millennium will be faithful and be given immortal life as children of God. [As an aside, note that while the Lord of lord and King of kings--Jesus the Messiah, is ruler of Earth during the Millennium--that the fire mentioned above comes from God the Father who is in Heaven until after the next event].

• T h e  L a s t  G r e a t  D a y
  

After the 7 days of the Feast of Tabernacles picturing the Millennium, is a separate 8th day, called the Last Great Day. Herbert W Armstrong showed--perhaps uniquely in the endtime--that it symbolized the time when God will resurrect all those who have died never understanding his Truth.

This means 99.99% of all people who've ever lived and died. Including almost everyone whom the world's largest churches think are lost forever.

This is the time described in Ezekiel 37 when the whole House of Israel--ancient and modern--which has died before the arrival of the Messiah in the endtime, will be resurrected back to mortal life.

They will be resurrected into a Paradise created under the direction of the Messiah during the previous 1000 years.

But every person who has ever lived will find that his or her sins have incurred the penalty of eternal death. They will all be offered the chance of eternal life. The conditions will be exactly what Jesus and his Apostles always said God the Father requires:

Repentance of past sins. Acceptance of Jesus Christ's sacrifice to pay for and blot sin out. Adult full-immersion-baptism with understanding that it symbolizes the death of the old sinful person, and the resurrection of the new. The anointing (and laying on of hands of God's ministry), to symbolize receipt of the Holy Spirit. And, a life of overcoming self. Overcoming society and Satan will not be problems then. Most will have the sense to recognize Christ's world is far superior to the one of Satan they previously lived in, and he won't be around.

This time is also called The Great White Throne Judgment.

It is the same time Jesus described, when "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this [1st Century] generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonah [who lived hundreds of years before the 1st Century]; and, behold, a greater than Jonah [is] here" (Matthew 12:41).

It's the same time "The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this [1st Century] generation [when Jesus lived], and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon [who lived about 1000 years before Jesus]; and, behold, a greater than Solomon [is] here" (Matthew 12:42).

Jesus made the same point in Matthew 11:20-24. The 1^st Century inhabitants of the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, are going to be resurrected at the same time as the judgment of the inhabitants of the cities of Sodom, Tyre and Sidon from earlier generations. (See Matthew 11:20-24). For example, Jesus referred to Sodom in the time of Abraham--who lived about 2000 years before these 1st Century cities.

All previous generations who lived and died in the first 6000 years before the Millennium, from Adam and Eve on, will be resurrected to mortal status in The Great White Throne Judgment--which starts after Satan is permanently removed from the Earth.

Imagine the shock these billions of individuals and families will experience. They'll find themselves alive, as if woken from a long sleep. They'll be healed of whatever caused their death, whether old age, disease, accident, natural disaster, war, famine, or murder.

Many who thought they understood what life was all about, will be dismayed to find themselves still on Earth--and not in Heaven, nirvana, limbo, purgatory, hellfire, or reincarnated as a butterfly or part of the cosmos.

They'll find themselves alive again on Earth, which by then will have been made heavenly by the Messiah. The long-haired, effeminate-looking, gentle-Jesus of their imagination, will be seen to be a deception of Satan, when they encounter the magnificent world-ruling King of kings, and Lord of lords, who is the real Jesus.

Imagine the family reunions of long-deceased relatives! Picture the joy of mothers reunited with their babies who died prematurely, now both resurrected back to good health! Imagine widows seeing their husbands alive again! Visualize the exhilaration of meeting grandparents, parents, or brothers or sisters, who died before you could know them--or after you grew to love them! Imagine the worldwide rejoicing, and praising of God--when an even greater crowd than in the Millennium--of the deaf will hear, the blind will see, the lame will dance, and the mute will sing!

Imagine all the famous, notorious, and unknown persons from past history--other than the 144,000 Firstfruits and the Millennium converts previously resurrected to immortality--who will be in that resurrection to mortal life.

"And I saw a great white throne...And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell [the grave] delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works" (Revelation 20:11-13].

This Judgment appears to be a 100-years long. In it the majority of mankind will be given their first chance to understand and live God's way, imbued with his Holy Spirit.

"There shall be no more there an infant of days, nor an old man that has not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner [being] an hundred years old shall be accursed" (Isaiah 65:20).

At the end of this period, those found worthy of "death and hell [the grave] were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death"--which is permanent (Revelation 20:14).

The rest--the vast majority of people who have ever lived in the first 6000 years of human history--will be given immortality as children of God.

After this, the Apostle John was shown there will be: "...a  n e w  h e a v e n  a n d  a  n e w  e a r t h:  for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and  G o d  [the Father]  h i m s e l f  s h a l l   b e  w i t h  [m e n, and be] their God...And [an angel] carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God..." (Revelation 21:1-3,10).

This wonderful vision of God's Plan for Mankind--Herbert W Armstrong saw clearer--and before anyone else in the 20th Century. It can only be fully understood by someone actually observing the 7 Holydays which are part of the Law of Moses.

HERBERT W ARMSTRONG DID REMEMBER THE LAW OF MOSES,

AND PROMOTED IT MORE THOROUGHLY THAN ANYONE IN THE ENDTIME,

AS THE ENDTIME ELIJAH WAS PROPHESIED TO DO.

"R e m e m b e r  y o u  t h e  l a w  o f  M o s e s  m y  s e r v a n t,
w h i c h  I  c o m m a n d e d  u n t o  h i m  i n  H o r e b  f o r
a l l  I s r a e l,  [ w i t h ]  t h e  s t a t u t e s  a n d
j u d g m e n t s.  B e h o l d,  I  w i l l  s e n d  y o u  E l i j a h
t h e  p r o p h e t  b e f o r e  t h e  c o m i n g  o f  t h e
g r e a t  a n d  d r e a d f u l  d a y  o f  t h e  L O R D"
(Malachi 4:4-5).

Herbert W Armstrong was the pre-eminent genuine Hebrew prophet of the 20th Century. He is the only major prophet God sent in the 1900 years after Bible times, until then. Logically, he has to be the one stand-alone prophet whom God promised to send in the endtime--the final Elijah. Ultimately, however, the fulfillment of his God-inspired predictions will corroborate his identity.

Herbert W Armstrong's restoration of Bible Truth included unveiling the prophetic meaning of both the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation.

T h a t  w a s  n o t  p o s s i b l e  i n  a n y  p r e v i o u s  e r a  o f  J e w i s h  h i s t o r y  o r  a n y  e r a  o f  t h e  t r u e  C h u r c h,            s i n c e  t h e  k e y s  i n  t h e  B o o k  o f  D a n i e l  w e r e  s h u t  u n t i l  t h e  e n d t i m e !

"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). By God's own definition, for Herbert Armstrong to be the first to understand these two key prophetic books of the Bible, means that he is a genuine and major prophet. Indeed it means he is: T H E  M A J O R  P R O P H E T  W H O  I N T R O D U C E S  T H E  E N D T I M E !

God only promised to send three major prophets in the endtime: Elijah, and the Two Witnesses. Mr Armstrong preceded the arrival of the Two Witnesses. Therefore, he must be the endtime Elijah.

Mr Armstrong stressed that the key to understanding endtime prophecy was to understand the identity of Israel--mainly Britain and America--in the latter days. Most prognosticators of the future still don't understand even that.

Since no-one preceded him in coming to the clear comprehension of these two crucial books in the endtime, nor exceeded him in forthrightly announcing Israel's true identity to a huge worldwide audience, are further proofs that Herbert W Armstrong is the endtime prophet Elijah.

The greatest prophecies of Herbert W Armstrong--which are major by any Bible prophet's standard--are yet to be fulfilled.

The realization that he was a prophet--for most people who heard, saw in person or on TV, or read, Mr Armstrong's predictions--will only come when the Tribulation comes upon them:

"And when this comes to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet has been among them" (Ezekiel 33:33).

That itself was another prediction Mr Armstrong made which is yet to be fulfilled.

In the second volume of his Autobiography Mr Armstrong recalls:

"The February-March, 1939, issue of  T h e  P l a i n  T r u t h  contained another article on the resurrection of the Roman Empire to come. We have warned radio listeners of this prophesied event since the first year we were on the air--1934. We have shouted this prophecy ever since 1934 in T h e  P l a i n T r u t h.  This issue carried a full-page map...showing the territory of the original Roman Empire."

"This map included four of the sea gates that control sea-access to this entire territory. The article stressed the fulfillment of the prophecy of Genesis 22:17 and 24:60, showing how the U.S.A. and Britain were to possess the sea gates of enemy nations..."

"These four vital sea gates, the article explained, must be taken from Britain before the 'beast' power--revived Roman Empire--can rise. Britain since, has lost Suez and exercises no real control over the other three." (See hardcover edition, pages 4-5).

The Apostle John predicted the "beast [will] rise up out of the sea" (Revelation 13:1). Once Britain and America entirely lose their grip on these four sea gates, which give access to the Beast's underbelly--the Mediterranean Sea--the Beast will be free to rise.

The other three sea gates Mr Armstrong was doubtless referring to are the Bosporus, and the Dardanelles Strait, running through Turkey; and the Strait of Gibraltar.

In 2002, Britain decided to share Gibraltar with Spain--which will definitely be part of the final resurrected Roman Empire.

Turkey--through which the Bosporous and Dardanelle pass--is currently friendly with America and Britain. She is also trying to become a full member of the European Union; and showing signs of reverting to an Islamic State. Either way, those conflicting loyalties are bound to strip America and Britain of the use of these sea gates.

The Turkish people are the modern descendants of Esau--the older twin brother of Jacob (who was renamed Israel). Their conflict started even in the womb of their mother, Genesis 25:20-28 explains. Jacob later bought the birthright from Esau (verses 29-34), and tricked their father into giving it to him. God allowed this because Esau disdained the birthright, not appreciating its great value.

Esau was also called "Edom" (Genesis 25:30). Mr Armstrong showed that the prophet Obadaiah predicted that in the endtime, Edom--that is, modern day Turkey--would terribly betray the Israelites. This would include Britain and America losing access to the Bosporous and the Dardanelles Strait sea gates:

"For [your--Edom's (endtime Turkey's)]  v i o l e n c e  a g a i n s t  y o u r  b r o t h e r  J a c o b  [Israel--especially Britain and America] shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off for ever. In the day that  y o u  s t o o d  o n  t h e  o t h e r  s i d e,  in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even you [were] as one of them".

"But you should not have looked on the day of your brother in the day that he became a stranger;  n e i t h e r  s h o u l d  you have rejoiced over the children of Judah [the Jews] in the day of their destruction; neither should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress".

"You shouldest not have entered into  t h e  g a t e  of my people in the day of their calamity; yes, you shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid [hands] on their substance in the day of their calamity; Neither shouldest you have stood  i n  t h e  c r o s s w a y, [the Bosporous and Dardanelles are  a  s e a g a t e  c r o s s w a y  between Asia and Europe] to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest you have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress. For the day of the LORD [is] near upon all the heathen: as you have done, it shall be done to you: your reward shall return upon your own head" (Obadiah 10-15).

Mr Armstrong showed that later, in the Day of the LORD, God would dry up the daughter of Babylon's sea--that is, the Mediterranean Sea of the endtime descendant of Babylon. (See Jeremiah 51:33,36).

Herbert W Armstrong's Bible-based prediction that Britain and America would lose control of the Suez Canal, the Bosporous, Dardanelles, and Gibraltar--before the final 'Holy' Roman Empire fully emerged--is now a lot easier to see than it was in 1934 or 1939. It also means we now are on the verge of seeing the rise of that Beast Power of Revelation 13: the 7th revival of the Roman Empire.

Mr Armstrong further prophesied that the powerbase in Europe--including the dried up Mediterranean Sea--of the final Roman Empire--whose religion is really Babylonian--will be uninhabited during the Millennium. (See Jeremiah 51; Revelation 17;18;19). That's how great the devastation will be which God brings on the enemies of America, Britain, and the Jewish State.

While he understood the significance of the Book of Ezekiel sometime before then, around May 1941, Herbert W Armstrong recalled he "began to see how Ezekiel 33:1-19 and 3:17-21 took on  i m m e d i a t e  and  s p e c i f i c  and  p e r s o n a l  significance" for himself (Autobiography of HWA, Volume 2, p36).

The reader is requested to read those two passages in their own Bible, in order to better understand Mr Armstrong's reaction.

"I  c o u l d  s e e  t h i s   's w o r d'  o f  W A R  c o m i n g !  I looked around. NO ONE had ever sounded this warning! No one was then sounding it! [Remember that America only entered World War 2 as a result of the attack on Pearl Harbor, seven months later, on December 7, 1941] ...how terribly God is going to p u n i s h North America and the British Commonwealth people for...our sins..." (page 38).

Herbert W Armstrong's first nationwide audience was on August 30, 1942 over radio station WHO, broadcasting from his birthplace, Des Moines, Iowa. In it, Mr Armstrong prophesied about the coming United States of Europe, which he already was seeing would be the cause of World War 3--The Great Tribulation predicted by Daniel and other Bible prophets. (See page 66).

Herbert W Armstrong was an accredited press representative as, Editor and Publisher of The PLAIN TRUTH magazine, at the historic San Francisco Conference to adopt a Charter for the United Nations, which started on April 25, 1945. Following two devastating World Wars, Mr Armstrong was God's witness that political figures there called the UN "civilization's LAST HOPE!"

That "last hope" has not stopped war, and is ultimately going to fail, Mr Armstrong prophesied from its start.

Most of Herbert W Armstrong's major prophecies are yet to be fulfilled--but are certain to occur--since they are firmly based on rock solid Scripture. They follow the overall basic pattern of events portrayed symbolically by the annual Holy Days, and the Bible prophets.

We've already seen Mr Armstrong correctly prophesied Mussolini would be the 6th head of the revived Roman Empire.

He further showed that the final 7th head will be the Beast Power of Revelation 13--which will be led by a World Dictator, to whom 10 European kings yield their power; influenced by a major world Religious Prophet performing deceptive miracles, for a total of 1260 days.

This is described by the Apostle John who saw "...a beast rise up out of the sea...upon his heads the name of blasphemy...and the dragon        [S a t a n]  g a v e  h i m  h i s  p o w e r,  and his seat, and great authority...and his deadly wound was healed: and  a l l  t h e  w o r l d        w o n d e r e d  a f t e r  t h e  b e a s t.  A n d  t h e y  w o r s h i p p e d  t h e  d r a g o n  which gave power to the beast:  a n d  t h e y            w o r s h i p p e d  t h e  b e a s t, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?"

"...power was given to him to continue forty [and] two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God...and...to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and  p o w e r  w a s  g i v e n  h i m  o v e r  a l l  k i n d r e d s,  a n d  t o n g u e s  (languages),   a n d     n a t i o n s.

A n d  a l l  t h a t  d w e l l  u p o n  t h e  e a r t h  s h a l l  w o r s h i p  h i m, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb [Jesus]..."

This reinforces the Bible's view that the majority of people on the planet are--and will be--deceived by Satan, the god of this world.

"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth...he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and [ h e ] c a u s e s t h e e a r t h and them which dwell therein t o w o r s h i p t h e f i r s t b e a s t, whose deadly wound was healed. And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And  d e c e i v e s  them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do..."

"And he had power to give life to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed".

"And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a m a r k in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the m a r k, or the n a m e of the beast, or the n u m b e r of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six [666]." (Above extracts from Revelation 13).

The Bible calls these two representatives of Satan, the Beast and the False Prophet. Because the world will worship the First Beast, it must think he is the Messiah or God. Therefore, it may also believe the False Prophet is the endtime Elijah who prepares his way [this author surmises]. The original Elijah brought fire down from heaven, as the False Prophet will; see 2 Kings 1.

Herbert W Armstrong plainly prophesied that:

• Britain and America, have inherited the birthright blessings God promised to Abraham, and his descendants, from about 1800.

• The UK and USA have lost sight of their origins, and the source of their blessings--but will realize their identity in the future.

• Because of their sins--especially idolatry and Sabbath-breaking--God is going to punish Britain and America--with the various curses for disobedience listed in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28--and by being defeated in our lifetime, suffering terribly at the hands of their enemies in The Great Tribulation.

• A revived European-based 10-nation 'Holy' Roman Empire--promoting what is actually Babylonian religion--will be the aggressor, led by the political/military Beast and his deceptive 'miracle-working' religious False Prophet, who are empowered by Satan for 1260 days.

• Two Witnesses of God, who have divinely miraculous powers for 1260 days, will oppose them.

• German military power will be a key component of the Beast Power. The 'Holy' Empire was historically a German led force.

• This worldly union of church and state, Beast Power, will invade the Middle East, capturing at least half of Jerusalem; Egypt and other Middle East nations--shortly before the Great Tribulation starts--thereby also securing the Suez Canal sea gate and the world's major oil-fields. Jordan will escape capture.

• Turkey is going to betray Britain and/or America, and the State of Israel, whereby the Bosporus and Dardanelles sea gates will be lost.

• Britain will lose Gibraltar, (and her remaining sea gates).

• Losing grip of the four sea gates to the Mediterranean underbelly of the Beast, it will be free to rise and attack the UK and USA.

• America will lose the Panama Canal (she did at the end of 1999), and her other sea gates.

• Mr Armstrong prophesied through the Cold War that Russia will not attack America, as some erroneously think is prophesied in the Bible.

• World War 3 is going to be so bad that unless God intervenes no human would survive.

• After fighting off an Islamic attack, the leader to become the First Beast, will secure the Middle East, and defeat Britain and America. This European-Beast Power will later strike out at the dominant Eastern power-bloc (Daniel 11:40-45). Its 200,000,000 army will retaliate, partly by going to the Middle East to battle the Beast, in a conflict that will kill a third of humanity (Revelation 9:13-21).

• God will intervene by sending the glorified Messiah--Jesus--as the literal Savior of the world. The armies of the world will gather to fight him, because they have been duped into worshipping the Beast and Satan (whom the First Beast symbolizes). They are likely to believe Jesus is Satan, or an alien invader.

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that great Heavenly Signs will precede "the Day of the LORD" intervention in world affairs, which will cut the Tribulation short--but not the 1260-day administration of the Beast and False Prophet (Joel 2:31).

• The armies of the world will be totally defeated by Jesus the all-conquering King (Revelation 19:17-21).

• The returning Messiah, the glorified Jesus Christ, will release and gather in the greatest Exodus ever, the captive remnant of all the Tribes of Israel to Jerusalem. (See again their identities at the end of The article identifying the Tribes of Israel today.). "...behold, the days come, says the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD lives, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD lives, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries where I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land" (Jeremiah 23:7-8).

• Mr Armstrong foresaw that even the Jewish remnant will accept the all-powerful real Jesus who saves them, and acknowledge he is the Messiah, when he rules with God's Law from Jerusalem over all the world.

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that the New Israel will prosper like no other society, in a righteous way, under the Messiah (See Isaiah 11 and Amos 9:13, for example).

• "And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of tabernacles" (Zechariah 14:16). Those nations refusing will receive no rain (verses 17-19).

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that at Christ's Second Coming the First general Resurrection will occur, of those prophets and saints born again as immortal Spirit sons of God. They will rule under Jesus Christ during the Millennium, as part of the Government of God. Mr Armstrong named certain of the more prominent Bible characters who will be in charge of different departments under Christ. The father of the faithful Abraham is bound to be the Messiah's chief advisor; along with the team of Isaac his son, and Jacob (the patriarch Israel) his grandson. King David will be over a united New Israel; with the 12 Apostles over the 12 Tribes; Moses over all national and international implementation of government; Elijah over the religious education. All will work according to God's Laws.

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that the patriarch Joseph would be made director of the world's economy--a job he qualified for as administrator under Pharaoh over ancient Egypt. "Joseph will be...[over world]...agriculture...industry...technology, and its commerce--as well as money and monetary system...on the international level, the same in every nation" ("Tomorrow...What It Will Be Like"" page 58).

• Joseph's descendants--Ephraim and Manasseh--the repentant remnant of modern day Anglo-Saxon Britons and Americans in the Millennium, with their genius for saturating the world with their culture, Mr Armstrong prophesied they will then export God's culture worldwide.

• Several points above indicate that Mr Armstrong did not prophesy a solely agricultural Millennium. Christ himself said the faithful would rule over cities. Isaiah predicted that in the Millennium "...they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations" (Isaiah 61:4). Mr Armstrong prophesied that the patriarch Job, a master builder, would be in charge of worldwide reconstruction and whatever major engineering may be required in the Millennium under Christ. (Compare Job 1:3 and 3:14 with God's challenge to Job as a builder, in Job 38:4-6).

• Mr Armstrong showed that God, the Master Planner, had pre-determined before the foundation of the world--whom he would call in the first 6000 years--to be the leaders of his world government in Christ's Millennium to follow. Mr Armstrong prophesied that faithful Church members of no particular rank now, will be given important rank in God's kingdom.

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that England and America--the Tribe of Joseph--and the other of the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel will again be joined with the Tribe of Judah--the Jews--as one nation under the glorified Messiah, the real Jesus (Ezekiel 37:15-28).

• The double-blessing of the birthright promises which belong to the Tribe of Joseph (1 Chronicles 5:2)--that is, the remnant of Anglo-Saxon British and Americans alive at the start of Christ's Millennium--will be inherited anew in the New Israel (Revelation 7). While Mr Armstrong may or may not have directly stated this, the principle is in line with his teaching.

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that the Third Temple of God will be built during the Millennium--not before--by the Messiah, in the territory of the Tribe of Judah (Ezekiel 48:8). Priests and those of the Tribe of Levi who serve in that Temple will live nearby, as the same chapter shows.

• The Messiah will make this combined New Israel the greatest nation on Earth, in order to re-educate all other nations in the worship of the true God.

• Mr Armstrong showed the gradual evolution of man and the Universe is going to be demonstrated to be a myth by Jesus, through whom God made all things (John 1:1-5,14). "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness" (1 Corinthians 3:19). This will involve the scrapping of books and educational courses of virtually every discipline that academics treasure today.

• There'll be no Oxford University, Harvard, MIT, Sorbonne, or any other academy teaching what they currently do, in the Wonderful World Tomorrow. The foundation of all education will be the Word of God, as it was in the original Elijah's three Colleges (2 Kings 2:3; 2:5; 4:38), and the three Ambassador Colleges which the endtime Elijah founded.

• Mr Armstrong foresaw that in the Millennium there'd be no organized gambling, prostitution, pornography, rampant adultery, divorce, crime, jails, CIA, FBI, Scotland Yard, no political parties, worldly entertainment industry or its idols, polluting factories, mass-production of junk, artificial foods, competitive greedy big business, inflation, insurance companies, mortgage companies, world banks, crippling interest rates, credit buying, stock markets, no arms manufacturers, armies, wars, famine, disease, drug research, major hospitals, abortion clinics, mental institutions. No evolution-based education or research--no "science-so-called". In other words, Christ is going to dramatically change society. Things will be done God's way--decently and in order.

• Mr Armstrong outlined the Bible's predictions of the new world the Messiah will bring, which will revolve around worship of God, and love for fellow humans. Fathers will again be the head of the home, with supportive wives, and obedient children. Each family will be given their own piece of land to develop. "...they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make [them] afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken [it]" (Micah 4:4).

• Mr Armstrong pointed out that God predicted he is going to once again give mankind one universal language (as before the Tower of Babel): "...then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent" (Zephaniah 3:9). This will doubtless come as a shock to those nations who are obsessed with their current language, but it will make for better universal understanding and harmony under the King of kings.

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that everyone will know about the real God in the Millennium"...for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9; see also Jeremiah 31:34). In effect this will mean the nations of the world will forsake their religions for the Truth of God. It will involve the total destruction of all the idols, icons, carved representations, paintings, images, statues, altars, temples, churches, seminaries, 'holy' books, music, and paraphernalia involved in pagan, pseudo-Christian, new age, Babylonian, Roman, Egyptian, and every other false religion, sect, creed, mythology, fable or legend.

• No Satan worship, demonism, witchcraft, or any form of occult activity whatsoever will be allowed in God's kingdom.

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that the Messiah will expose Xmas, Easter, and other holidays as pagan, and remove their commercial component, which will eradicate them.

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that instead of tax, the biblical tithing system--of giving God one tenth of one's increase--will be practised universally. This will radically alter the world's economy. Since tithes are paid to God, and the firstborn Son of God will be in Israel, it will also ensure that wealth will flow to Jerusalem as to no other city.

• Mr Armstrong prophesied God will change human nature. He'll do this by removing Satan the tempter; convict people of their sins and need for repentance; and provide access to his Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that God's Government on Earth--Theocracy--will eradicate Communism, Fascism, Socialism, Democracy, and every other form of human governance.

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that Satan would be imprisoned for the 1000-years of Christ's Millennium, then released for a short-time to test the faith of those alive then, and that some would fail the test (Revelation 20:7-10).

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that all who died in the first 6000 of human history not knowing God's way, would be resurrected (probably for 100 years)--in the Great White Throne Judgement--to have their first real opportunity for salvation (Revelation 20:11-15). They will be astonished at the Wonderful World Tomorrow which Christ created over the previous 1000 years.

• Mr Armstrong prophesied that all those who rebel against God by the end of the Millennium, or by the end of these 100 years, will be terminated forever: "...the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

Herbert W Armstrong understood the endtime had arrived--and that his charge--as the final Elijah--was not so much to originate prophecy, but to restore its understanding, and show how the Bible interprets itself in the light of latter-day events.

T h i s  c h a p t e r  s u m m a r i z e s  s o m e  o f  t h e  m a n y  i m p o r t a n t  B i b l e -b a s e d  e n d t i m e  p r o p h e c i e s  w h i c h   H e r b e r t  W  A r m s t r o n g  m a d e.

T h e y  a r e  m a j o r  p r o p h e c i e s  w i t h  g l o b a l  a n d  e t e r n a l  c o n s e q u e n c e s,  r e f l e c t i n g  a n                                   u n d e r s t a n d i n g  o f  G o d 's  b l u e p r i n t  f o r  h u m a n i t y,  w h i c h  o n l y  t h e  e n d t i m e  E l i j a h  c o u l d  r e s t o r e.

He had presented many high quality, specially made pieces of Steuben Crystal to Royalty and Heads of State worldwide. The Council of Elders of the Worldwide Church of God presented Herbert W Armstrong himself with an $11,500 unique Steuben Crystal creation called "Elijah's Cup", (the May 10, 1982 issue of the organization's newspaper "The Worldwide News" reported).

E l i j a h' s C u p was a fitting recognition and symbol of the Work of God done by this prophet. No-one else in the endtime has or can still qualify to receive it.

These are some of the  w o r l d  l e a d e r s  w h o  p e r s o n a l l y  r e c e i v e d  Herbert W Armstrong on an official basis. In God's Kingdom, at the latest, they will realize that they met the endtime prophet Elijah in this life. That will have a profound affect on them, and those whom they will influence then.

Charles, Prince of Wales, British heir to the Throne.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Britain, at 10 Downing Street.

King Leopold III of Belgium
(who presented Mr Armstrong with the last of four rare watches made from a World War 1 cannonball, to honor his contribution to world peace).

Prime Minister Golda Meir of the State of Israel.

Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of the State of Israel.

Prime Minister Menachem Begin of the State of Israel.

Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir of the State of Israel.

Prime Minister Shimon Peres of the State of Israel.

President Yitzhak Navon of the State of Israel.

Mayor Teddy Kollek of Jerusalem.

Mr Moshe Kol, Israeli Minister of Tourism and Development.

Emperor Hirohito of Japan conferred on Mr Armstrong the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Second Class (the highest honor a non-Japanese can receive).

Prince Makasa, brother of Emperor Hirohito.

Prime Minister Eisaku Sato of Japan.

Prime Minister Tanaka of Japan.

Prime Minister Miki of Japan.

Prime Minister Fukuda of Japan.

Prime Minster Ohira of Japan.

Prime Minister Suzuki of Japan.

Prime Minister Nakasone of Japan.

Mr Armstrong also knew eight Cabinet ministers of the Diet who called themselves his "Japanese sons".

Franz Josef Strauss, Premiere of Bavaria, West Germany.

Count Otto von Hapsburg, head of the 700-year old Hapsburg dynasty.

President Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt.

President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India.

President V.V. Giri of India.

President Suharto of Indonesia.

President Nguyen Van Thieu of South Vietnam.

President Suleiman Franjieh of Lebanon.

Emperor Hailie Selassie of Ethiopia.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand: the King honored Mr Armstrong with the royal decoration of "Commander of
Our Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand".

Prime Minister Thanin Kraivichien of Thailand.

Prime Minister Kittikachorn of Thailand.

Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda of Thailand.

King Mahendra and the Crown Prince of Nepal.

King Birendra of Nepal.

Jomo Kenyatta, founder of Kenya.

President Moi of Kenya.

King Sobhuza II of Swaziland.

Acting President George Ladas of Cyprus.

President Sam Nujoma of Namibia.

King Hussein of Jordan.

King Juan Carlos of Spain.

Honorable Deng Xiaoping leader of China.

Prime Minister Hua Guofeng of China.

President Jayewardene of Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Ceylon.

President Allende of Chile.

Prime Minister John Vorster of South Africa.

President Nicolaas Diederichs of South Africa.

Former President J.J. Fouche of South Africa.

President Nicolae Ceauseca of Romania.

General Carlos Romulo of the Philippines.

President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines.

Mr Armstrong was awarded "The Presidential Merit Medal" by the President of the Philippines in 1983.

Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh.

High Commissioner Lt. General Lampert of Okinawa.

Dr Tran Nguon Phieu, Social Welfare Minister in Vietnam Government.

Nagendra Singh and Manfred Lachs of the World Court.

These are a few of the numerous worldclass entertainers who performed between 1974 and 1995, at Ambassador Auditorium,
which Herbert W Armstrong built in Pasadena, California:

Classical:

Opera Singers:

Luciano Pavarotti, Marilyn Horne, Deborah Voigt, Thomas Hampson, Kathleen Battle

 

Legends of the piano:

Artur Rubinstein, Vladimir Horowitz, Andre Watts

 

Great Orchestras:

Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Carlo Maria Giuilini and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra

The Russian National Orchestra

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

St. Martins-in-the-Fields

Andre Previn and the Orchestra of St. Lukes

Placido Domingo and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

The King's Singers

 

Classical Music, Soloists: 

James Galway (flute), John Williams (guitar), Julian Bream (guitar), Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Yo Yo Ma (cello), Pepe Romero & the Romeros.

Singing Legends:  

Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Tony Bennet, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, The Kingston Trio, Jack Jones, Steve Allen, Roger Williams, Helen Reddy, Don Maclean, Shirley Jones, Buddy Greco.

Country Headliners:  

Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, Mark O'Connor, Allison Krauss & Union Station, Del McCoury & Laurie Lewis.

 

Giants of Jazz: 

George Shearing (piano), The Modern Jazz Quartet, Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson, Dave & Don Grusin, Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, Henry Mancini, Chick Corea, Mel Torme, Stephane Grapelli, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Haden & Quartet West, Sonny Rollins, Herbie Mann, Cleo Laine & John Dankworth, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Ritenour, Joe Henderson, Dianne Schuur, Arturo Sandoval, Stanley Turrentine, Kenny Barron, Dick Hyman, Eddie Daniels with Gary Burton, Maynard Ferguson, Poncho Sanchez, Ernie Watts, Al Hirt, Peter Erskine, John Patitucci, Joe Pass, Toshiko Akiyoshi & Lew Tabackin, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Count Basie

 

Other Stars:

Marcel Marceau, Jose Greco Dance Company, Ravi Shankar.

Imagine the response of these musicians when they discover--after the Messiah appears, or when they are resurrected--that they performed at the headquarters of the true Church of God, built by the endtime Elijah! In most--if not all cases--their astonishment will result in their talents being transformed to sing the praises of God, influencing many others to follow suit. That probably was the longterm plan God had in mind for their performances at Ambassador Auditorium.

Herbert W Armstrong's Ambassador College was also involved in joint participation with Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the most important archaeological dig at the time--at the South Wall of the Temple Mount--under the direction of that university's former President, Professor Binyamin Mazar. A formal ceremony on December 1, 1968, ratified the joint participation.

Many Ambassadors from different countries have also heard Herbert W Armstrong speak at official occasions, or in the presence of world leaders. In addition Mr Armstrong formally spoke to various business leaders internationally at Rotary, Lions, and Kiwanis Clubs.

The Ambassador College Cultural Foundation sponsored a tour of the USA for China's Little Ambassadors (children's group) of Shangai--whose highlight was a tour of the White House by Nancy Reagan, accompanied by Herbert W Armstrong. AICF was founded by Mr Armstrong on March 18, 1975 as a humanitarian, cultural, charitable, and educational organization, which practiced the good works which the Church preached.

Although he was brought up in a Quaker home, Herbert W Armstrong's mother was of Jewish descent, through the Royal line of King David of Israel. Jewish descent today is reckoned through the mother. Had Mr Armstrong been brought up Jewish, being born on July 31, 1892--7 Ab in the Hebrew Calendar--his barmitzvah readings, which he would have had to recite in the synagogue when 13, would have been Isaiah 40:1-26 and Deuteronomy 3:23 to 7:11.

Some rabbis believe these readings are prophetic of how the boy's life will turn out. Looking back after his death, it would be difficult to choose a more fitting summary of Mr Armstrong's ministry than the prophecy in Isaiah 40:1-26. The passage contains themes that he many times preached about; it states that God will come with a "strong hand" [with an Armstrong?]; and speaks of "The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God". This is the very description Mr Armstrong applied to himself, which was applied in Scripture to John the Baptist, a forerunner of the endtime Elijah (Matthew 3:3).

The reading from Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 starts with Moses' plea to God to change his mind, and allow Moses to walk into the Promised Land before he died--which God turned down. Mr Armstrong had anticipated being alive when Christ returned, which would have allowed him to cross over alive into the Promised Land of the Messiah's coming Millennium. God didn't allow it. The passage also contains the second giving of the Law (The 10 Commandments), which Mr Armstrong also gave in the sense that he spiritually magnified the Law in a way similar to what the Messiah had done at his First Coming, as no-one else has done.

This passage also contains the famous injunction (the Shema) which Jew's recite daily and regard as the essence of their faith: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD" (Deuteronomy 6:4).

Herbert W Armstrong, as the endtime Elijah, clarified how God is One--in the light of the Messiah's New Covenant revelations. The Tribe of Judah is going to be compelled to re-evaluate how it is that God is One, at the Second Coming of the Messiah--when he comes with all power, and rules Israel according to the Law, as the immortal Son of God.

In this author's study of the teachings of Herbert W Armstrong since 1958, he has never read or heard anyone refer to these barmitzvah readings regarding God's Apostle. Therefore, it is unlikely Mr Armstrong was even aware of how they related to him. They are nevertheless prophetic of his ministry as the endtime Elijah.

Herbert W Armstrong is the endtime prophet Elijah whom God promised to send to restore all things; raise an alarm about the impending destruction of the world unless Israel (and the nations) repent; and to proclaim the Good News that the soon-coming Messiah is going to establish the world-ruling Kingdom of God on Earth, with headquarters in Jerusalem.

NO-ONE ELSE BUT HERBERT W ARMSTRONG HAS, DOES, CAN, OR WILL, FIT THE PROFILE OF THE ENDTIME ELIJAH.

Proof #7: HWA Restored All Things As The Endtime Elijah Has To

"A n d  J e s u s  a n s w e r e d  a n d  s a i d  u n t o
t h e m,  E l i a s  [E l i j a h]  t r u l y  s h a l l
f i r s t  c o m e,  a n d  r e s t o r e  a l l  t h i n g s"
(Matthew 17:11).

The context of the above passage was after both the original Elijah, and John the Baptist, were already dead--and therefore shows that the endtime Elijah would be the one to restore all things. If John the Baptist had restored all things, Jesus Christ's preaching would only have been a continuation of John's ministry.

Instead, Christ's ministry was a profound restoration of the message all the prophets had given in the past--announcing the coming restitution of God's Government and Kingdom on Earth; see Acts 3:21; (which is yet to occur)--and a magnification of how the Law of God is to be observed in the New Covenant dispensation which Jesus initiated.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:1-3,14).

Besides--the Word, born as the human Son of God--Jesus of Nazareth who never sinned--sacrificed his life (which was worth more than the entire human family he'd created), to pay in our stead, the eternal death penalty we've each incurred for our sins.

Christ also started the New Covenant Church, which consists of members who are endowed with the Holy Spirit--which was only available to the prophets and a few others before the New Testament Church commenced.

Therefore, the ministry of Jesus clearly involved greater restoration (and innovation) than anything John the Baptist did.

The very fact that Jesus said that Elijah would restore all things, shows that he understood there would be a massive Falling Away from the Truth he taught. And that it would only be fully restored in the period before the Day of the LORD, during which the endtime Elijah was active.

Herbert W Armstrong long pointed out that the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God--which Christ and the Apostles preached--had not been comprehensively proclaimed for 1900 years until he restored it.

No Pope of the Roman Catholic Church could credibly claim to be the endtime Elijah, because: "From the 11th to the 20th century the Roman Catholic Church has claimed to be the only authoritative apostolic church united by a recognition of the jurisdictional primacy of the bishop of Rome as the successor of St. Peter" (Encyclopaedia Britannica article "Roman Catholicism, history of)".

Besides, God never promised to send the endtime Elijah to Rome--which never has been the headquarters of his Church--but "to Israel" (Malachi 1:1; 4:4-6). The RCC's claim to be "Spiritual Israel" is equally spurious.

No Protestant Church leader today, who is faithful to the founding doctrines of the Reformation--nor any Jewish rabbi faithful to strict Orthodox beliefs--could rightly claim to be the endtime Elijah either--since the understanding of latter day prophecy is something relatively new. Something only to be understood in the endtime of massive increased knowledge and international travel: the very time that Herbert W Armstrong came to understand and teach the meaning of Bible prophecy, as no-one else before him.

For an Orthodox Jewish or Catholic 'Elijah' to "restore all things" in the endtime, would imply their faiths have been in a state of doctrinal disrepair for almost 2000 years. Not something either will admit.

Mr Armstrong explained:

"In 69 A.D., the Christians fled from Jerusalem...For the next hundred years, church history is virtually a blank...IT WAS THE MYSTERIOUS 'LOST CENTURY' OF CHURCH HISTORY! ...When the curtain rises, about 170 A.D., we behold a 'Christian' church hardly recognizable!"

"In most vital points of doctrine and custom it is the very antithesis of the Church of the original Apostles founded by Jesus Christ...yet it...calls itself 'Christianity'" ("God Speaks Out on The New Morality" by Herbert W Armstrong, page 32 hardcover, published 1964).

Mr Armstrong showed that Edward Gibbon's famous work "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" (Volume 1, chapter 15) notes "the dark cloud that hangs over the first age of the Church". That "A Handbook of Church History" by the noted English author Samuel G. Green states, "The thirty years which followed...the [70AD] destruction of Jerusalem are in truth the most obscure in the history of the Church. When we emerge in the second century we are, to a great extent, in a changed world."

"The remaining thirty years of the first century are involved in mysterious darkness, illuminated only by the writings of John. This is a period of history about which we know least and would like to know most" ("History of the Christian Church" by Philip Schaff).

Any religion claiming to have had a continuous and firm grip on all God's truth from the 1st Century (or before)--without the need for the endtime, pre-Kingdom of God, Elijah, to restore all things--cannot be the true faith of God!

The plain truth is that 1900 years later, Herbert W Armstrong restored all things necessary for salvation, and he restored the Government of God in the true Church of God.

For Elijah to restore "a l l things" before the endtime  D a y  o f  t h e L O R D, there FIRST had to be a GREAT Falling Away prior to the endtime. That Falling Away took place, as indicated above, after the ministry of Jesus and the 12 Apostles, and especially in the 30 years following the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in 70AD.

But there could not be the prophesied endtime Great Falling Away from Truth, unless Elijah's Great Restoration of All Things had  f i r s t  taken place, from which there could be that Falling Away.

The Falling Away prophesied in 2 Thessalonians 2 is obviously dual.

It applied to the 1st Century Falling Away, and it refers to the endtime Falling Away.

With respect to the latter, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day of Christ's Second Coming shall not come], except there come a falling away f i r s t... And t h e n shall that Wicked [one] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming" (2 Thessalonians 2:3,8).

The endtime sequence is clear.

Some 1800 years after the 1st Century Falling Away from Christ and the Apostles' teachings, the endtime Elijah begun to Restore All Things. At the end of his Great Restoration, when he died, there was The Great Endtime Falling Away from what he Restored. Sometime after that, t h e n the Wicked one will be revealed, whom Christ will destroy at his coming.

The endtime Elijah's Restoration is, therefore, complete--BEFORE the Wicked one appears. "The Wicked one" can only refer to the First Beast (as a latter-day type of Nimrod or Nebuchadnezzar)--or the False Prophet who directs all worship toward him. They are only empowered for 1260 days at the start of the Tribulation.

THUS, THE ENDTIME ELIJAH HAS TO COMPLETE HIS RESTORATION:

• B E F O R E THE LATTER-DAY FALLING AWAY

• B E F O R E THE BEAST AND FALSE PROPHET ARE EMPOWERED

• B E F O R E THE TRIBULATION STARTS

• B E F O R E THE TWO WITNESSES START THEIR 1260 DAYS, WHICH PARALLEL THOSE OF THE WICKED ONE!

We've already seen that Protestant historian Dr Ruth Tucker rates the Falling Away from original doctrine taught in the Worldwide Church of God, which Herbert W Armstrong founded--as the largest Falling Away in any Christian church in all history.

That means that Herbert W Armstrong's was the GREATEST RESTORATION EVER in any Christian Church, in order for there to be the greatest Falling Away from it. This is further evidence that he is the endtime Elijah.

The September/October 1997 American edition of the heretical post-Armstrong "The Plain Truth" magazine, ran a full-page advert announcing the publication of "Transformed by Truth". Authored by the son of Mr Armstrong's successor, Joe Jr, the book further confirmed that the Tkach administration had completely repudiated Herbert W Armstrong's teachings by 1995. The advert stated:

"For nearly 70 years the Worldwide Church of God, founded by Herbert W Armstrong, preached a 'different Gospel'. Then in 1995, only ten years after Mr Armstrong's death, the leadership of the WCG [Worldwide Church of God] publicly renounced its unorthodox teachings and entered the evangelical mainstream."

It was followed in late 2002 by the publication of "The Liberation of the Worldwide Church of God" by J. Michael Feazell, the Tkach-appointed Executive Editor of the then apostate "The Plain Truth" magazine. Mr Feazell's book admits, "No other Christian Church in our modern experience has rejected its founding sectarian roots...", as has the post-Armstrong Worldwide Church of God.

Since these vast changes turned the Worldwide Church of God into a Protestant organization, it shows what a gulf there is between the two.

It also means that the empowerment of the Two Witnesses, and the Beast and False Prophet can not be too far in the future.

Shortly before those events, however, we can expect to see the King of the North [who becomes the First Beast], invade the Middle East, and in particular the State of Israel (Daniel 11:40-45). This seems to start the 1335-day countdown at the end of Daniel 12. "And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh" (Luke 21:20).

At the 1290-day countdown mark: "When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:)" (Matthew 24:15). "And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days (Daniel 12:11)."

At the 1260-days left countdown mark, the Tribulation starts with the Beast and False Prophet empowered--but challenged by the Two Witnesses of God.

When the endtime Elijah started his Restoration, we ought to have recognized the endtime had arrived. When the great Falling Away from that Restoration is complete, we ought to realize the end is near. Therefore, even just knowing the identity of the endtime Elijah gives one a broad outline of where they are in Bible prophecy.

Since Mr Armstrong started his Restoration by proper observance of the biblical weekly seventh-day Sabbath, the conclusion of the Falling Away--leading to the revelation of the Wicked one--may be signalled by some public declaration of total rejection of the true Sabbath by Mr Armstrong's successors.

Those who are still waiting for Elijah to start his Restoration, do so because they have failed to recognize Mr Armstrong is this endtime prophet. That includes some of the leading evangelists and associates that worked with him. As Jesus said, "A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house" (Matthew 13:57).

All the pieces of the prophetic jigsaw puzzle fit, when matching the profile of the endtime Elijah against that of Herbert W Armstrong. Deny this prophet sent from God his rightful place in history, and you deny yourself the key to fully understanding endtime prophecy.

The Apostle Paul prophesied "...[that day of Christ's Second Coming, shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that m a n o f s i n be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitsin the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God..."(2 Thessalonians 2:3-5).

The Falling Away occurs first; and in the true Church. As a result the Man of Sin is revealed. He is called a son of perdition, that is, a son of destruction. The same term is only elsewhere used in the Bible of one person--Judas Iscariot who betrayed Christ. The Man of Sin sits in the Temple of God, which Mr Armstrong showed, means the Church of God. (Ezekiel's last nine chapters prove the Messianic Temple will only be built after he appears). The Man of Sin shows  h i m s e l f   that he is God. In contrast, the False Prophet gets  t h e  w h o l e  w o r l d  to worship the Beast (Revelation 13:8).

This description must be compared with the next part of Paul's prophecy, because after Mr Armstrong and his successor's deaths, it can also be seen to be dual in the sense that it refers both to the Man of Sin who caused the great Falling Away in God's endtime Church; and a world figure whom Christ will destroy at his Second Coming.

"For the mystery of iniquity [lawlessness] does already work: only he who now lets [will let], until he be taken out of the way. And t h e n shall that Wicked [Lawless one] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders..."

The Wicked one can not refer to the endtime Elijah's successor who caused the Falling Away, since he is already dead, and did not come with miraculous powers. The world figure Wicked one did not cause the Falling Away from Elijah's Restoration. His yet future death is described in Revelation 19:20. These must be two distinct people.

The endtime Elijah's successor--is the Man of Sin--who took upon himself God's prerogatives when he attempted to alter and do away with the Law of God, which had been restored in the Church. "There is one Lawgiver..." meaning, God (James 4:12). In that sense the Man of Sin exalted himself above God in his own mind, while sitting in the Temple or Church of God.

Those who have followed the Man of Sin in the Church will be affected by the Lawless one, whom the whole world is going to worship. The Wicked one will come with "...the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders...And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that [are] perish[ing]; b e c a u s e  t h e y  r e c e i v e d  n o t  t h e  l o v e  o f  t h e  t r u t h,  t h a t  t h e y  m i g h t  b e  s a v e d".

They rejected Elijah's Restoration of Truth and/or the Government of God in the Church.

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe [the] lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (See all of 2 Thessalonians 2).

"The lie" referred to above is probably the age old one Satan the deceiver has always promoted, that he is God. If so, it means that those who have Fallen Away from Elijah's Restoration are going to be deceived into worshipping the Devil, thinking he is God.

The endtime Elijah's successor first went to Ambassador College on July 17, 1966 as a student at the headquarters in Pasadena, California, of the Worldwide Church of God.

He came to prominence 13 years later when he opposed a prior Satanic onslaught on the Church. The California Receiver, based on false allegations, invaded Church headquarters January 3, 1979. In hindsight, this looks like a classic case of deception now, a double-headed ruse designed to take over and destroy the Church. If the Receiver failed, the Man of Sin--who opposed him--would look good to ministers and members, and subtly succeed in wrecking the Church (to the extent God allowed).

Six days before his own death, Mr Armstrong publicly announced his successor on January 10, 1986. After Mr Armstrong's death, his successor promised to walk in his footsteps, because he wasn't big enough to walk in Mr Armstrong's shoes.

This he appeared to do. But by Passover 1987 he already began to walk backwards, by subtly tamper with the crucial Passover doctrine. Mr Armstrong had called this one of the foundational doctrines of the Church. He'd also stated that if the foundation of a spiritual building was cracked, eventually the whole building would collapse.

That is precisely what has happened to the Worldwide Church of God after it pounded away at the foundational and other doctrines he restored during almost 60 years.

This is a prophecy Herbert W Armstrong made which has already largely come to pass. The organization is only a facade now.

One doctrine after another was altered; at a faster and faster speed--with high-level denials anything fundamental was changing.

On December 17, 1994--fittingly at the start of the ancient pagan Saturnalia (which is the basis for the 'Christmas' which the world so loves)--Mr Armstrong's successor revealed his true colors in Atlanta.

He outlined what was in effect an alternate and lawless Marriage Proposal to the Bride-to-be of Christ, the Church--on behalf of Christ's chief rival suitor, Satan. He called it a New Covenant, but it did away with the need to keep God's Law.

Exactly 40 weeks later, some say to the minute, Mr Armstrong's successor died a reportedly horrible death. It may have been intended by God to symbolize the terrible suffering, which the disobedient in the Church will suffer in the Tribulation.

Unconvinced of God's displeasure--his son of the same name who succeeded him, and his supporters--continued the Great Apostasy.

As a result, on May 9, 1997 the Worldwide Church of God officially became a member of the largest Protestant organization in America. That was just over 10 years after its founder died.

That his successors progressively repudiated every major doctrine taught by Herbert W Armstrong was confirmed by the later publication of "The Liberation of the Worldwide Church of God", by one of the ringleaders of the apostasy.

In a nutshell, the book erroneously and superficially denies the validity of the Bible truths which Mr Armstrong had restored in the true Church. It's only value is that it confirms three things. Firstly, it confirms that the great Falling Away from the Truth Elijah restored is all but complete.

Secondly, it confirms that "...the carnal mind [without God's Spirit, is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Romans 8:7).

Thirdly, it confirms that it is "impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4-6).

The hijacking of the Worldwide Church of God can be likened to Osama bin Laden systematically repudiating every traditional ideal Americans cherish; taking over their country against their will; evicting genuine Americans who won't become Islamic; and publishing a book called "The Liberation of America".

The day of reckoning for the perpetrators is certain.

Herbert W Armstrong stated in "Mystery of the Ages", that "At least 18 basic and essential truths have been restored to the true Church since that year" [1933]--without supplying a numbered list of them (page 251).

When the Radio Church of God was incorporated in 1933 it did so stating its beliefs, and presumably did so again when it was renamed Worldwide Church of God in 1968.

Mr Armstrong gave a list of restored doctrines in a sermon on 17 December 1983, about 17 months before he finished "Mystery of the Ages". It differed in order, from that book's 7 main chapters showing the major doctrines restored in the Church. (His successor, whose work is now altogether suspect, printed his own list after the Apostle's death).

Since there is no conclusive list, and some of the doctrines overlap making strict numbering difficult, the list below uses as a guide, the 7 main chapters of "Mystery of the Ages" and its contents--Mr Armstrong's final major written overview--along with other material the Church published.

The point here is not to claim to have itemized every jot and tittle of what was restored in absolute order, but to show how extensive Herbert W Armstrong's Restoration was.

What else could a yet-to-come Elijah restore in the Church of God that Mr Armstrong didn't, which would provide a better resurrection or salvation?!

The answer is--NOTHING!

Further proof that Herbert W Armstrong is the endtime Elijah.

Below is this author's unofficial list of:

MAJOR DOCTRINES RESTORED IN THE PHILADELPHIA ERA OF THE CHURCH OF GOD THROUGH

HERBERT W ARMSTRONG--THE ENDTIME ELIJAH:

1---The True Nature and Identity of God.

This includes the identity of the real Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. God is a Family, consisting of God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son--who have the inexhaustible power and love of the Holy Spirit--through which they are bringing to birth many more sons of God, of which Jesus was the Firstborn. Ultimately all humans who choose to live God's way will be literally born again as Spirit Beings in the Kingdom of God. This possibly unique understanding is that God is not a closed Trinity because that denies the very purpose of God, that he is expanding his Family.

Mr Armstrong revealed the identity of the LORD of the Hebrew Scriptures (or Old Testament), as the Word of God who came in the flesh as Jesus Christ. "...all [ancient Israel was] baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:2-4).

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:1-3,4).

Christ himself said that one of the purposes he came was to reveal the Father, and that no mortal had ever seen the Father--therefore the back of God which Moses saw, had to be that of the Rock, the Word of God, now called Jesus.

"All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him]" (Matthew 11:27). This shows that neither the ancient Israelites, nor the modern day Jews know God the Father.

The Holy Spirit is not a third person in the Godhead, but the power by which God accomplishes his will.

2---The Origin and Nature of the Faithful Angels, Satan, and the Demons.

God did not create a Devil. He made a musically and otherwise talented, powerful, beautiful, archangel--Lucifer--who was given charge over millions of angels on Earth before God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Pride--the root of many sins--entered his heart and he rose with an army of angels to invade Heaven, but was sent crashing back to Earth. "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation 12:9).

He turned into Satan--God's adversary--and the third of the angels who followed him became demons. Jesus encountered both in his human ministry. Satan is presently "...the god of this world [who] has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Humans, none of whom have evolved, have inhabited Earth for about 6000 years. As a result of Satan's rebellion--and the First War in Heaven--against God and his angels, the Solar System was thrown into a state of confusion and chaos. The resulting damage to the now ravaged planets and our Moon still bear evidence of that devastating war.

When God first laid the foundation of the Earth--"in the beginning" described in Genesis 1:1--the angels whom he had made earlier, shouted for joy (Job 38:4-7). An unknown time later--which could have been millions of years--Lucifer rebelled and wrecked the Earth. This explains why Genesis 1:2 describes it as being "without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep.." That was not the way God originally made it.

God's creation described from Genesis 1:3-31, is really about the re-creation of the surface of the Earth, and the making of Adam, Eve, and the animals and plant-life we know today. That only happened about 6000 years ago.

3---The Nature of Man, Spirit-in-Man, and Incredible Potential of Human beings.

Man does not have an immortal soul. That is the basis of all pagan religion. Man is a soul. God says: "...the soul that sins, it shall d i e" (Ezekiel 18:4). Therefore, souls are mortal. The very first lie Satan told humans was that Eve wouldn't die if she ate of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:4). Humans have believed that lie ever since.

Soul (Hebrew "nephesh") is also used of animals in the Bible, who have no afterlife. Wise King Solomon correctly understood that death means death. "For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts [animals]; even one thing befalls them: as the one dies, so dies the other; yes, they have all one breath; so that a man has no pre-eminence above a beast: for all [is] vanity" (Ecclesiastes 3:19).

[Solomon lived before the death of Jesus made it possible for people to be resurrected from the dead, and displays no knowledge of that. His wisdom was about earthly things. He correctly understood that death is permanent--and not the continuation of life in a different form. The Book of Ecclesiastes, like Abel's spilled blood, cries out for a Savior].

There is a human spirit in man. It is not an immortal soul. It is not the Holy Spirit. It is a non-physical component that works with the brain; is not present in animals; but is what differentiates humans from animals. When God made King Nebuchadnezzar become like an animal for 7 years, he seems to have accomplished this by temporarily removing the spirit-in-man from the king (see Daniel 4). One reason animals can never evolve into people is because God will never give them this spirit which makes humans human.

The spirit-in-man gives the person their basic personality and intellectual powers. It becomes inert when the brain ceases to function. It cannot hear, see, taste, see, or smell. It is designed to work with the brain; and to receive the Holy Spirit and work with it--but before the latter, it has no comprehension of the things of the God's Spirit, and is antagonistic to them. At death it returns to God who gave it, in an inert form, much like a tape

removed from a tape-recorder. [It is possible that this is what originated the idea that people go to Heaven when they die]. If it has been imbued with the Holy Spirit, the spirit-in-man contains the blueprint for the person to be resurrected as a Spirit Being. Otherwise their resurrection will only be back to mortality. Those who only receive God's Spirit in the Great White Throne Judgment, will if faithful also be able to be resurrected to immortality at the end of their second life.

"...God has revealed [truths] to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save t h e s p i r i t o f m a n which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10-11). Just as animals can't appreciate the things of humans, humans can't understand the things of God--unless they have his Holy Spirit.

Further, "Because the carnal [natural] mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:7-8).

For genuine Christians, who have received it, "The [Holy] Spirit itself bears witness with o u r [human] s p i r i t, that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16).

The destiny of humans is to become literally born again, that is, changed at Christ's coming, or resurrected from the dead in their due time as immortal Spirit Beings in the Family of God.

4---The Origin of Human Civilization, and its Religions.

The Two Trees in the Garden of Eden symbolize (a) Eternal Life and (b) the forbidden tree whose fruits result in Eternal Death. If Adam and Eve had partaken of the first, they would have received the Holy Spirit and obtained Eternal Life. Instead they ate of the forbidden fruit and introduced sin into the human family. "...the LORD God said, Behold, the man...lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and l i v e
f o r e v e r: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden..." (Genesis 3:22-23).

That sin effectively cut Adam and his descendants off from God. "...death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression..." (Romans 5:14). However, "...if by one man's [Adam's] offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:17).

Satan spiritually kidnapped Adam and his descendants. Noah was descended from Adam, but was one of the few people God worked with in the first 2000 years of human existence. All humans on Earth today are descended from the three sons of Noah--Shem, Ham, and Japheth--descendants of Adam who survived the Flood (See Genesis 10).

A great-grandson of Noah--Nimrod--founded Babel (verses 8-12). His rebellion against God caused the Almighty to provide the nations with different languages to divide them, making them scatter worldwide, taking their Babylonian religion with them, but adopting it to their various differing cultures (Genesis 11). [Since God created human languages, they didn't evolve out of nothing. The complexity of the language of even so-called primitive tribes, is evidence that the Bible is correct about this].

Historical and mythological records show that Nimrod was opposed (by righteous Shem) and killed. The woman in his life, Semiramis claimed their illegitimate child was Nimrod resurrected. In life Nimrod was honored as a hero; in death he was worshipped as a god. This same system was later duplicated in Rome. Caesars were worshipped as gods after their death. Rome's Madonna and Child were derived from the worship revolving around Semiramis and her son. As were other pre-Christian Madonnas. The reader is referred to "The Two Babylons" by Alexander Hislop, and "The Golden Bough" by Sir George Frazer.

Semiramis and Nimrod were called Isis and Osirus in Egypt, and their son, Horus. However, they were worshipped under many names in different countries. Nimrod's Tower of Babel symbolizes human civilization apart from the real God.

After the House of Israel was carried away captive by Assyria, "...the king of Assyria brought [men] f r o m B a b y l o n, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed [them] in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and t h e y
p o s s e s s e d S a m a r i a, [the capital of the 10 northern Tribes of Israel] and dwelt in the cities thereof" (2 Kings 17:24).

2 Kings 17 shows that these Samaritans were allowed by the King of Assyria to recall an apostate Israelite priest from captivity to advise them about a problem they faced. In doing so they formed a syncretism of Babylonian and Israelitish religion that was not acceptable to God. It remained essentially a Babylonish religion.

By the time Jesus conducted his ministry in the Holy Land, the Samaritans had lived there for hundreds of years. The non-Israelitish, Samaritan woman, whom Jesus encountered in John 4, claimed to be a descendant of Jacob but didn't believe worship should be conducted in Jerusalem. This reflected the confused state of her Babylonish religion. Jesus told her "You worship you know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22).

In Acts 8, Simon Magus, or Simon the Magician--is shown to have long bewitched the Samaritans into thinking he exercised God's power. After seeing the real power of the Holy Spirit, he was baptized--but blasphemously tried to buy the Holy Spirit, and an Apostleship with a bribe.

God showed the genuine Apostle (Simon) Peter, that Simon the Magician was in a state of bitterness and sin. Peter instructed him to repent. Instead Simon Magus asked Peter to act as a mediator priest between him and God, to avoid the punishment Peter said he deserved.

That was a typically Babylonian response. It is a custom the largest church on Earth claiming to be Christian, still clings to. By contrast, the Bible says "...[there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).

There are some clues that the Samaritan woman Jesus spoke to was Helen, who was living with Simon Magus. Jesus amazed her by knowing she'd had five lovers. Simon and his consort are mentioned in Scripture because they are key players in starting the Babylonish pseudo-Christianity, by which Satan has deceived the world.

Mr Armstrong, and researchers on his behalf, showed that Simon, used the term "Pater"--meaning "Father"--as a title, of the leader of counterfeit Christianity. Simon Pater went to Rome and in time became confused with the real Simon Peter, who never went to Rome, as can be proved from the Bible. (See Chapter 20 in the book America’s Greatest Prophet).

By the sixth decade of the 1st Century, the Apostle Paul found it necessary to write to the Gentiles converted to true Christianity "I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ to another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ" (Galatians 1:6-7).

The church started by Simon the Pater in 33AD, tried to turn the Christian Passover of unleavened bread and wine into a Babylonish ceremony named after Isis--also called Ishtar--which some Semitic dialects pronounced "Easter". A ceremony not mentioned in the Bible (except for one incorrect mistranslation in some versions).

After the death of John--the longest living of the 12 Apostles--his disciple Polycarp disputed the Passover-Easter question with the Roman bishop who had succeeded Simon the Pater.

A later genuine disciple, Polycrates, had an even more intense controversy with another Roman bishop over a similar issue called the Quartodeciman Controversy. It revolved around Polycrates upholding the truth--which the Romans were disputing--that the Passover Jesus instituted should be observed on the evening of the 14th of Nisan. The Roman church insisted on an unscriptural Sunday observance.

The then non-Christian Emperor Constantine of the unholy Roman Empire convened the Council of Nicea in 325AD. There both Easter Sunday and the Trinity doctrine were made law--but not Truth! Nowhere is the word "trinity" or the phrase "Easter Sunday" even found in the Bible! Yet today, the majority of churches claiming to be Christian believe both of these pagan notions.

In addition, the modern system of academic education is based on the principles of the pagan teachers Plato and Socrates--which are hostile to the Word of God. Human nature is--at the least, passively--hostile to the Law of God, and not subject to it (Romans 8:9). This education system has provided advances in physical knowledge and the modern world of science and high technology--but it is unable to solve man's spiritual problems. Only God can do that.

Mankind has built a world that is not based on the Laws of God, but on human reason and tradition, under the invisible influence of Satan and his demons. The result is a world filled with sickness, disease, mental stress, and crime of every sort, abuse, misused sex, hopelessness, and frustration, which is teetering on the verge of global self-destruction.

That world will soon end when the Kingdom of God is established on Earth, and all nations comply with the Law of God.

Since Adam and Eve listened to Satan instead of God, he generally closed the door to salvation, during the 6000 years before Christ's Second Coming. Instead God started working with key individuals. The main one was Abraham, from whom came the nation of Israel. God subsequently worked through Moses with that one nation. It later split in two--because of sin--and Israel and Judah were even later independently punished by being evicted from the Promised Land they'd inherited.

In the 1st Century, God sent Jesus, his only begotten Son, to start his Church, and open access to salvation eventually for all people.

While this begun through the Apostles Peter and Paul, for the most part the non-Israelitish nations have been no better than Israelites and continued in their own Babylonian based-religions, or worshipped "another Jesus".

Herbert W Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God did baptize people of numerous nations. However, only when the Messiah comes again will there be largescale worldwide conversion in all nations to God's Truth "...for [then] the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9).

5---The Identity of the Descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, And God's Warning to Them.

This the key to understanding endtime Bible prophecy. It includes knowing about Israel's 2520 years punishment; the identity of the birthright Tribe--which was not Jewish; its present location; chief inheritance now; and future destiny.

Bible prophecy cannot be understood without this key. Especially that the birthright promises to the firstborn were inherited in our day by the Anglo-Saxon British and American people (of the Tribe of Joseph). The Tribe of Judah inherited the Scepter promise of Royal office, which will culminate in the Messiah. Not being the recipients of the birthright land promises, Judah's royal personages have nevertheless long ruled from the birthright territory.

The democracies of northwest Europe are also descendants of Israel, except for most Germans.

The modern Germanic people are the descendants of the ancient Assyrians, whom God used to punish and take captive the 10 northern Tribes of Israel, headed by the Tribe of Joseph. God is going to use the Assyrians again for the same purpose in our day. The modern descendants of Israel had to be warned of the message that Ezekiel wrote to endtime Israel--but never delivered.

Herbert W Armstrong came to understand, starting shortly before America got involved in World War 2, that part of the job God called him to do was to be a Watchman to Israel--and deliver  E z e k i e l' s  w a r n i n g  m e s s a g e  to their endtime descendants. He had to metaphorically blow a trumpet, warning about the coming greatest war ever in history, which would devour the House of Israel if she did not repent.

"Then whosoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and takes not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that takes warning shall deliver his soul" (Ezekiel 33:4-5).

That same chapter ends by saying "And when this comes to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet has been among them" (Ezekiel 33:33). This prophecy is made in the general context that war is looming, with God warning "...I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through" (Ezekiel 33:28).

The realization that a prophet has warned them must, therefore, come on the descendants of Israel--especially Americans and Britons--when they are caught up in that war, The Great Tribulation of World War 3.

This is further evidence that the one who gave the Ezekiel message is the endtime prophet Elijah whom God promised to send.

6---The Identity, Location, and Nature of the True Church.

Its name--Church of God; its Holydays--outlined in the Law of God; its mission--preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and feeding its own flock spiritually; its size--"the Little Flock" (Luke 12:32); its character--keeping the Ten Commandments of God, which express the love of God. "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3).

Its membership consists of "not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]" (1 Corinthians 1:26).

Its destiny--"Him that overcomes will I [Christ] make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name" (Revelation 3:12).

Its inspiration--"...not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, ...if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9).

The Church of God has 7 Eras symbolized by the characteristics of the 7 churches in Revelation 2 and 3. All 7 characteristics are evident in any era, but the era--or time period--in which the Church currently is, is the characteristic that dominates. When looking for the true Church, Herbert W Armstrong found remnants of the 5th Era. He started the 6th, or Philadelphia Era. His book "Mystery of the Ages" uses the metaphor of "changing the baton" as in a relay race, to indicate the changing of an era. Shortly before his death he passed the baton to his successor. Therefore, by Mr Armstrong's own definition, the 7th and final era--Laodicea--must have officially started on 10 January 1986 when he announced his successor, or 6 days later when he died.

Mr Armstrong showed in his final book that the endtime Temple of God is the true Church of God. It is the spiritual Body of Christ consisting of individuals who have the Spirit of God. The Church of God is the Kingdom of God in embryo.

The Third physical Temple in Jerusalem--described in Ezekiel chapters 40 to 48--will only be built when the Messiah returns. And, therefore, he implied that the Wicked one whom Christ destroys at his Second Coming would not sit in a genuine Temple of God in Jerusalem. [The King of the North who is destined to become the First Beast] will "...plant the tabernacles of his [own] palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain..." (Daniel 11:45)].

7---Restoration of the Comprehensive Good News of the Soon-Coming Literal Kingdom of God on Earth.

The Kingdom of God is to be on Earth--not in Heaven--under the rulership of the Messiah--Jesus Christ--"Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21).

Mr Armstrong showed that the Kingdom of God, consists of a King (the glorified Jesus--and his government of resurrected saints); territory (the Promised Land with an undivided Jerusalem as capital); laws (the Laws of God found in the Bible); and subjects (to start with, the remnant of the children of Israel who survive the Tribulation and Day of the LORD).

• Heaven is not the reward of the saved.

"And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven" (John 3:13).

• Herbert W Armstrong is the endtime prophet Elijah, through whom God "Restored All Things".

Mr Armstrong's long stated declaration that he was the first one in the 1900 years since the days of Jesus and the 12 Apostles to comprehensively preach the true Gospel of the Kingdom of God--was a low-key way of stating he was the endtime Elijah. Apparently it was too subtle for even many of his follows to realize what he was saying. In his final book "Mystery of the Ages", published shortly before his death at over 93 years old, Herbert W Armstrong confirmed that he is the endtime Elijah.

Bible Truth is not discoverable by scientific research. Herbert W Armstrong did not come to his understanding because of superior wisdom, but because God chose to open his mind to understand what is otherwise humanly impossible to comprehend in the Bible.

The Bible is a coded book. It's doctrines are scattered and can only be correctly understood through Divine revelation.

"...the word of the LORD was to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken" (Isaiah 28:13).

God revealed in the Bible that he created the Universe and everything in it, through Jesus Christ. How many people on Earth today truly believe both those statements?

Most people are ignorant of the fact that God revealed the existence of the spirit-in-man. Therefore, they don't understand the real nature of man and what his true potential is. Nor do they understand the unbridgeable gap between animals and people.

God reveals there is a spirit world more real than the physical one. To deny this realm exists, denies God, the angels, Satan, and the demons exist--but it does not remove them from existence. Just because spirit can't be seen, measured, analyzed, and experimented on by humans, doesn't annihilate spirit from the Universe.

The Philadelphia Era is to hold fast to the Truth restored by the Apostle or messenger from God, who is the endtime Elijah. By implication, now that we are in the Laodicean Era, the remnant of Philadelphia must be even more diligent about holding fast to what it was given (Revelation 3:7-13).

8---Salvation is a Process.

This involves:

(i) B e i n g  c a l l e d  by God the Father through being shown part of his Truth, and the sinful state of the person. God alone initiates it. Jesus said "No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him..." (John 6:44).

(ii) R e p e n t a n c e after having one's eyes opened by God to his truth, of one's sinful state. This means being deeply remorseful about past sins, asking God in heartfelt prayer for forgiveness, and determining not to sin in the future. "Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law [of God]" (1 John 3:4). The penalty for transgression of God's Law "...the wages of sin [is eternal] death; [which every person--other than Jesus who lived a perfect life--is guilty of]. That is what has to be repented of." This includes F r u i t s o f

R e p e n t a n c e (Matthew 3:8) which must be brought forth over a period of time to show one's commitment and sincerity. "And we are his witnesses of these things; and [so is] also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey him" (Acts 5:32).

(iii) F a i t h  a n d  W o r k s.  It is a neccesary part of salvation to believe God exists; that the Bible is his inspired Word; that Jesus died for one's personal sins, was resurrected, and so can the believer be. "...Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). "Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone. Yes, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: shew me y o u r faith without y o u r works, and I will shew you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:17-20). "You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).

(iv) W a t e r  B a p t i s m by full immersion, as a responsible adult. Baptism symbolizes the complete death and burial of the old person in a watery grave, and the resurrection of the new Christ-like person. The Law of God cannot be kept in its spiritual intent without receiving God's Spirit (Romans 8:9). "...[the Apostle] Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

 (v) L a y i n g  o n  o f  h a n d s of the baptizer(s) on the sinner's head. "...through laying on of the apostles' hands  t h e  H o l y S p i r i t  was given..." (Acts 8:18). This results in the person being  "s a n c t i f i e d  [or set apart for a holy use by God] by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:16).

(vi) J u s t i f i c a t i o n of past sins by the shed blood of Jesus, wipes the slate clean of past sins, and ensures one's  r e c o n c i l i a t i o n with God the Father. "...God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be  s a v e d  by his [resurrection to eternal] life" (Romans 5:8-10).

(vii) G r a c e. "...the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Eternal life cannot be earned. It comes by the grace of God, unmerited by humans. "And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work" (Romans 11:6). Grace does not do away with the Law of God. By grace God gives the repentant undeserved pardon for past sins. By grace God gives the repentant sinner the undeserved gifts of the Holy Spirit and of Eternal life. Works can earn none of these things.

(viii) F a i t h,  H o p e,  a n d  ( A g a p e )  L o v e.  While human faith in the existence of God and his promises is necessary, it is the faith of Christ in us that accomplishes God's will. Christian hope is based on the promises of God not human expectations. Christian (agape) love is only possible if one has received the Holy Spirit, and is the most important characteristic of the genuine believer (see 1 Corinthians 13).

(xi) P r a y e r,  B i b l e S t u d y,  M e d i t a t i o n,  F a s t i n g,  a n d  C h r i s t i a n  F e l l o w s h i p. Personal Bible Study is the ingesting of spiritual food, which like physical food, needs to be imbibed on a daily basis to sustain growth. It must be done in conjunction with prayer and meditation, ideally for a combined total of at least an hour a day. Fasting--the complete abstinence from food and water--to draw closer to God, should be an occasional habit; and also employed during a period of crisis. Christian Fellowship is practised at Church Services, Bible Studies, and social events of the Church and membership.

(x) F r u i t s  o f  t h e  H o l y  S p i r i t.  Over a lifetime the Christian is required to grow in grace and knowledge,  o v e r c o m i n g  their weaknesses, and expected to exhibit "...the fruit of the Spirit [which] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). Receipt of the Holy Spirit and being led by it, results in  c o n v e r s i o n  from worldly thinking to God-centered thoughts and actions.

(xi) J u d g m e n t  a n d  R e w a r d.  The process over time, and at different times, whereby God evaluates people's activities, after which he renders his verdict, giving rewards to the righteous and passing sentence on the wicked. The true Church is undergoing judgment now. "For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17). The Great White Throne Judgment is referred to in section 11.

(xii) R e s u r r e c t i o n.  One is not finally saved until born again as a Spirit-composed, immortal Child of God, in the kingdom of God--and, therefore, is incapable of ever sinning again. That completes the process of  S a l v a t i o n.  "Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9). The Apostle John contrasted that with the present condition of Christians--before the Resurrection--"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). "...at the last trump [announcing Christ's Coming]...the [faithful] dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we [true Christians who are alive] shall be changed" into immortal Beings (1 Corinthians 15:52). Eternal life is a free gift from God which cannot be earned.

9---Recognition that the Hebrew Calendar, based on the Bible's foundation, is the authoritative grid for Holy Day observance.

The oracles of God were given to the Jews, which included faithfully preserving the Old Testament and the Sacred Calendar on which it is based (Romans 3:2; Matthew 23:1-2).
 
10--Observance of the Sabbath and 7 annual Holydays with New Covenant understanding of their Symbolism.

Starting with the correct seventh-day of the week, Friday-sunset to Saturday sunset, Sabbath-observance

--Mr Armstrong restored the spiritual intent of keeping this Law of God. The Sardis remnant of the true Church Mr Armstrong found was keeping the Sabbath, but Scripture indicates few were faithful (Revelation 3:4).

Some in that remnant of the Church of God, as commanded by Christ, on the evening starting 14th Nisan in the Hebrew Calendar, kept observance of the once yearly Passover. This is the memorial of Jesus Christ's death with the appropriate symbols of broken unleavened bread and red wine. However, they were not observing the following commanded Holy Days which Mr Armstrong later restored.

Observance of the northern hemisphere Spring season Feast of Unleavened Bread which directly follows the Passover, and the much later Autumn 8-day Feast of Tabernacles; with the comprehension that combined, they foreshadow the 7000-year Plan of God for Mankind.

(a+b) Unleavened Bread--pictures our forsaking of sin. 7 days with a Holyday at either end.

(c) Pentecost--portrays receipt of God's Spirit, which enables us to keep his Law, which the natural mind can't do in a spiritual sense. Also symbolizes the small early harvest of Firstfruits to be born as sons of God in the First Resurrection.

(d) Feast of Trumpets--announces Christ's Second Coming and the Resurrection of the firstfruit Sons of God.

(e) Day of Atonement--forsees Mankind's reconciliation with God after Satan is imprisoned. Night and day of complete fasting.

(f) Feast of Tabernacles--7 days symbolizing the 1000-year peaceful reign of Christ, in Jerusalem, ruling the world. First day is a Holyday. Seventh day immediately followed by an eighth day:

11--(g) The Last Great Day--looks forward to the physical resurrection of the billions of people of all past generations who died, never understanding God's Truth.

"The most universal false teaching, believed by virtually all churches called Christianity, except the one and only true and original Church of God, is that ALL are automatically "l o s t"  u n l e s s  t h e y  p r o f e s s  Jesus Christ as Savior--and that now is the o n l y day of "salvation" (Mystery of the Ages, page 127).

Those resurrected in the time pictured by the Last Great Day will see the beautiful end result of Christ's 1000-year transformation of the Earth--and be given the opportunity to compare it with the world they knew. They'll be compelled to decide whether or not they want immortality--which is only obtainable by accepting God's way. Non-Christians through the ages are not lost forever--their time for salvation is yet future. It's the period when Jesus prophesied that generations from different times in past history will be resurrected back to life as contemporaries in the future.

12--The Laying on of Hands and Anointing with Oil--by the ministry.

This symbolizes God's seal of approval through the power of the Holy Spirit:

(a) anointing of newly baptized people--in order for them to receive God's Holy Spirit, and thereby become potential kings in the Kingdom of God. (The ancient Kings of Israel and Judah were also anointed as a sign of having God's authority).

(b) to show God has appointed a person to a ministerial office, or a different ministerial office, in the Church.

(c) to consecrate a new marriage at the wedding ceremony.

(d) to bless young children as Jesus did.

(e) to cast out demons.

13--(f) Anointing The Sick, Divine Healing, and The 7 Laws of Radiant Health.

"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14). Mr Armstrong restored the understanding that transgression of God's 7 main physical health laws are a type of the transgression of God's spiritual Law (the Ten Commandments)--which leads to sickness, and death. Humans need to maintain a tranquil mind, have proper hygiene, get appropriate amounts of sleep and rest, drink pure water and eat natural wholesome God-made foods, imbibe fresh air, get enough sunshine, and exercise adequately. Otherwise they get sick. The above foods include abiding by God's Laws of Permitted and Forbidden Foods listed in Leviticus 11.

Christians can claim God's promise of healing, by being anointed by a minister of God (see Matthew 8:14-17). "[Jesus] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: b y  w h o s e  s t r i p e s  you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

Christ died, as a result of crucifixion (and being stabbed in the side), for our spiritual sins of trangressing the Ten Commandments.

His body was savagely beaten before then to pay for our transgression of the physical health Laws that God instituted. The broken bread at Passover symbolizes Christ's broken body, by whose stripe we are physically healed. The Passover wine symbolizes Christ's shed blood for our spiritual sins.

Mr Armstrong also authorized cloths anointed with oil and prayed over by a minister to be sent to those unable to be personally visited, in similar fashion to what the Apostle Paul did. Thousands of people were genuinely healed of various ailments (in a quiet way), which is a sign that the true Gospel was being preached.

At Christ's Second Coming the faithful firstfruits--including the prophets and other few who had the Holy Spirit before Christ's First Coming (see Hebrews 11); and those in the true Church, will be changed if alive or resurrected if dead, to immortality--born again as Spirit Being sons of God. This is the first Resurrection.

Having lived a life of overcoming sin, self, society, and Satan, they will then be completely saved from their sins and from death for all eternity. Just accepting the name of Jesus and confessing one's sins does not save one or make them born again.

When those in the Millennium qualify to be born again as Spirit Beings, they will be changed. Not being dead they won't need to be resurrected.

This will be followed by the Second Resurrection, which is to mortal life, of the billions who previously lived and died, who come up on the Last Great Day, in the Great White Throne Judgment. Those who qualify will in turn be changed to immortality at the end of that period.

Those who were called, rejected that calling, and died in the first 6000 years, will be in the Third Resurrection to face judgment before being eternally destroyed by being burnt in the Lake of Fire. (See Revelation 20).

15---Endtime Prophecy Can be Understood Now, Because This is The Endtime.

"But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (Daniel 12:4).

About a third of the Bible is prophecy, and about 90% refers to the endtime, Mr Armstrong maintained.

It is appropriate that the endtime Elijah was shown by God when the endtime began. Herbert W Armstrong understood he was living in the endtime before he was even ordained a minister in 1931.

This was confirmed when he saw that Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler's Axis was the sixth prophesied resurrection of the 'Holy' Roman Empire. The "one is" could only be identified in the present tense form of the prophecy during the 444 weeks existence of the Axis, which Herbert W Armstrong alone recognized. It showed the Book of Revelation and Daniel could then be understood, and therefore, confirmed that the endtime had arrived.

"And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and o n e i s, [and] the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space" (Revelation 17:10).

The seventh and final resurrection of the 'Holy' Roman Empire will be a 10-nation United European based combine, led by a dictator "Beast"--aided by a deceptive "False Prophet" heading a Babylonian religion claiming to be the major Christian one. The 10 kings will give their power to the Beast, which will have at his command modern Assyrian (Germanic) military forces.

Mr Armstrong partly came to the conclusion that the endtime was here because of combining the above information with Daniel 11:40.

"And  a t  t h e  t i m e  o f  t h e  e n d shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over".

Italy had been humiliated by its unique defeat at the hands of the Ethiopians: the only African nation until then to beat a European one at war. Mussolini retaliated, fulfilling [what appears to this author] to be the signal of the s t a r t of the fulfillment of endtime world prophecy; whereas the final King of the North's retaliation--which goes all the way to Jerusalem--will signal the start of the e n d of the fulfillment of endtime prophecy. Possibly coinciding with the commencement of the 1335-day countdown in Daniel 12:10-13.

16--The Only Sign of Christ's Messiahship: Jesus Was Dead for 3 Days and Nights.

Jesus gave the world o n l y o n e s i g n that he was the genuine Messiah: that he'd be dead in his grave for three nights and three days, as Jonah was in the whale's belly. The professing Christian world generally believes that Christ was only buried from late on 'Good' Friday until early 'Easter' Sunday morning. This was a period of one day and two nights. It amounts to a denial of the sign Christ gave (See Matthew 12:39-40). Herbert W Armstrong showed from encyclopaedias and historical sources that Easter is pagan--and from the Bible that Jesus was buried just before sunset on a Wednesday during the 31AD Passover season, and rose just before sunset that Saturday, making three days and three nights according to Hebrew reckoning.

17--God is Creator of All There Is: Evolution is a Modern Myth.

Mr Armstrong published various articles and booklets showing, from both a real scientific, and a Scriptural point of view, that evolution is a modern myth. Evolution is totally incompatible with the Bible's revelation of the origin of the species.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has shewed [it] to them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

P r o f e s s i n g  t h e m s e l v e s  t o  b e  w i s e, [as Professors of Evolutionary Science do) they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things"--[by in effect claiming that they created themselves]. (See all of Romans 1).

God also created the Bible, by inspiring humans to write and preserve it. In it's original form it is perfect. The Bible is the ultimate authority of what is true. However, it can only be properly understood through God's revelation.

18--The Missing Dimension in Sex.

Mr Armstrong published several editions of a book on the subject, showing the importance of observing the 7th Commandment, plus the physical and spiritual outlook God has about sexual relations and why they should only be in holy matrimony. This included the teaching that marriage symbolizes the holy union between Christ and the Church, and that the process of human reproduction is a God-given illustration of how salvation works. Human birth pictures, being born again spiritually in God's Kingdom.

19--Comprehensive Tithing.

The Church of God (Sardis Era) observed First Tithe. That is giving a tenth of one's increase to God. Herbert W Armstrong restored the implementation of Second Tithe, which each member keeps to pay for observing the annual Holy Days, especially the week-long Feast of Tabernacles. And Third tithe. "At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year, and shall lay [it] up within y o u r gates" (Deuteronomy 14:28). This is for helping widows and the poor.

20--The Seven Laws of Success.

These could be described as the wisdom of Solomon, concerning achieving material goals, condensed into seven points. Set the right goal, look after your health, educate yourself, have drive, resourcefulness, perseverance, and put God first in all you do. In principle they also apply to the spiritual goal of seeking first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness.

21--Church Government.

Herbert W Armstrong restored the Government of God in the Church. Jesus Christ will, at his coming, restore it to Israel--and progressively over the whole world. This Government is under the supreme command of God the Father, through Jesus Christ, to his leading Apostle in the Church dispensation. It is based on God's Laws. It has existed for all eternity and is God's mechanism for keeping order in the Universe among those who submit to his will. It is also capable of dealing with those who don't. It is perfect when directly administered by Christ. This form of government is from the top down--and is definitely not a democracy.

22--The New Heavens and the New Earth.

After the vast majority of all humans born in the first 7000 years of God's Plan are made immortal (and those who chose to rebel are destroyed), God will create a New Heaven and a New Earth--and the former will be demolished. The New Jerusalem will descend from Heaven. God the Father will himself come from Heaven for the first time in human history and dwell in the New Jerusalem.

"Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14; and see all of Revelation 21 and 22).

The endtime Elijah restored all things necessary for salvation, and restored the Government of God in the true Church. There has since been the prophesied great endtime Falling Away from Truth in the Worldwide Church of God, which is now a hollow shell of its former self. Even those holding fast to what Herbert W Armstrong taught are scattered in hundreds of different organizations--none very big--many people are alone.

We know that when Christ returns he will "r e s t o r e a l l t h i n g s" on a grander scale: "...when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord...he shall send Jesus Christ...Whom the heaven must receive until  t h e  t i m e s  o f  r e s t i t u t i o n  o f  a l l  t h i n g s, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:19-21).

Christ could not "restore all things" if one of the Two Witnesses has already done so as Elijah, during their 1260-day tenure, shortly before the Messiah's arrival. This is another reason why Elijah's Restoration has to precede the empowerment of the Two Witnesses, and be followed by the great Falling Away before Christ comes. This is further proof that only Herbert W Armstrong's restitution came at the right time allotted for the endtime Elijah.

The endtime Elijah's Restoration typified Christ's worldwide re-education and beautification of the Earth in the Kingdom of God. By way of contrast, the Two Witnesses' devastating ministry during the Tribulation and dreadful Day of the LORD, will not typify what is going to happen in the Messiah's peaceful Millennium.

Herbert W Armstrong confirmed he is The Endtime Elijah in word and deed, by doing the Work which Elijah was predicted to do. He operated at the time Elijah was predicted to come. He ministered to the constituency Elijah was prophesied to come to. He turned the hearts of the fathers to the children and vice-versa, and promoted the Law of Moses, as Elijah must. He restored all things as Christ said Elijah would. The ongoing fulfillment of Mr Armstrong's prophecies further corroborate that he is the prophet Elijah whom God foretold he would send in the endtime.

NO-ONE ELSE BUT HERBERT W ARMSTRONG CAN FILL THE SHOES OF THE ENDTIME ELIJAH!

Can The Endtime Elijah be One of The Two Witnesses?

"...I [G o d] w i l l g i v e [p o w e r] u n t o
m y t w o w i t n e s s e s, a n d t h e y s h a l l
p r o p h e s y a t h o u s a n d t w o h u n d r e d
[a n d] t h r e e s c o r e d a y s, c l o t h e d
i n s a c k c l o t h" (Revelation 11:3).

The idea that one of the Two Witnesses will be Elijah goes back to the days of the 1^st Century in Jerusalem. This point is made by Bible scholar Arthur Pink, who at the time of the publication of his book "The Antichrist", claimed to have read every book analyzing the Book of Revelation--of which he reckoned--more books had been written about than any other part of the Bible).

Impossible as it may seem--since Herbert W Armstrong is the endtime Elijah--he also could be one of the Two Witnesses. But only if an exceptional miracle takes place!

"Elijah, according to [Jewish] legend, never died and is thought to be the forerunner of the Messiah who will...usher in the world to come" ("Festivals in World Religions" by Shap Working Party, page 183, ISBN 0-582-36196-6). The second part of that belief is true, but not the first, as is shown below.

Today the notion of the first Elijah being one of the Two Witnesses has resurfaced. In particular, among those Herbert W Armstrong taught who now doubt, or outright disbelieve, that he is this endtime prophet. That should not be surprising since Jesus said, "...Verily I say to you, No prophet is accepted in his own country" (Luke 4:24).

Some of the early exponents of this belief thought that the original Elijah would be one of the Two Witnesses because they also thought he never died. That view was based on the erroneous concept that 2 Kings 2:11 describes Elijah as being taken to God's Heaven: "...a chariot of fire, and horses of fire...parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (2 Kings 2:11).

Mr Armstrong showed that three heavens are mentioned in the Bible. The atmosphere around the Earth where airplanes fly; the heaven we now call Space; and the Heaven from where God rules the Universe.

Of God's Heaven, Jesus said, "...no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man [whom writing later, John added]...is [back] in heaven" (John 3:13). Jesus, who arrived in the Promised Land long after Elijah's whirlwind ride, therefore testified that neither Elijah nor any other human was in God's Heaven.

So where is he?

Sometime after God relocated Elijah, he wrote a letter from his new place of residence--on Earth not in Heaven--rebuking King Jehoram, (the son of King Jehosophat of Judah. King Ahab of Israel, whom Elijah had previously prophesied against had since died, showing this was a later period). See 2 Chronicles 21:12-15.

Elijah's flaming chariot, whirlwind trip, was similar to an airplane flight. It might even have been meant by God to be a forerunner of the personal corporate jet with which the endtime Elijah travelled worldwide. When the time came, the original Elijah died like everyone else.

The early believers that one of the Two Witnesses would be Elijah, also believed that the other Witness would be Moses. The death of Moses was sufficiently surrounded with secrecy to suggest to them that he was still alive, contrary to what the Bible says. Others did, or still believe, that the Two Witnesses will be Enoch and Elijah--partly because they incorrectly think they're alive in Heaven.

Current proponents note correctly that there is a linkage between the Work of Moses and that of the original Elijah. They tend not to see that there is an even greater known linkage between the Work of Herbert W Armstrong and both Moses and the original Elijah.

THE ONLY WAY THAT ONE OF THE TWO WITNESSES
COULD BE THE ENDTIME ELIJAH,
IS IF GOD MIRACULOUSLY
RESURRECTS
HERBERT W ARMSTRONG
TO COMPLETE HIS WORK !

"...Jesus...said...with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).

There is no Scriptural proof that this will definitely happen--but there are Scriptural indications that it could.

On August 16, 1977 Herbert W Armstrong was declared clinically dead at a hospital in America. He revived. As a result, the chief historian in the Church then, Dr Herman L. Hoeh, gave a reflective sermon in which he proclaimed that the words of Revelation 10:11 had prophetic application regarding Mr Armstrong's Work: "...You must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings" (Revelation 10:11).

The prophecy proved true. From previously preaching to the general public from America, Herbert W Armstrong visited over 70 nations proclaiming the Gospel to Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers; other high-ranking government and business officials; leading exponents of the performing arts; and to ordinary people, worldwide.

Mr Armstrong knew only God could have opened the door for him to visit such high-ranking dignitaries.

Dr Hoeh also pointed out that Revelation 11:1 uses the term "Rise" that can mean "Be resurrected"--which, literally or metaphorically, Mr Armstrong had been.

That verse is in the context of the mission of the Two Witnesses. This author notes that if it is God's intention to have the endtime Elijah be one of them, this verse will have a dual fulfillment concerning Mr Armstrong.

"And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying,  R i s e,  and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein" (Revelation 11:1).

This could just as well be translated, "Be resurrected and measure the Church of God, and them that worship therein".

The reality is, in the confused state of the scattered Church, no-one living is more qualified to measure the condition of the Spiritual Temple than would be a resurrected Herbert W Armstrong.

Jesus resurrected Lazarus back to mortal life. He also said his disciples would do greater works than he did.

When Jesus was crucified, the heavy veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom; there was an earthquake; "And the graves were opened; and m a n y bodies of the saints which slept [that is, were dead] arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared to many" (Matthew 27:52-53).

Imagine the shock of those who had mourned and buried them!

Note this happened in three phases. First, at Christ's death an earthquake opened the graves of many saints. Presumably these were disciples of Jesus who had died in the previous three-and-a-half years of his ministry, and/or disciples of John the Baptist.

Second, soon after Christ's resurrection, these saints were resurrected back to mortal life--healed of whatever killed them--as a type of the future resurrection to immortality--which they and other saints would later enjoy.

Third, these saints then proceeded to show themselves to m a n y in Jerusalem, obviously to people who'd known them, and probably to key officials. This was a dramatic witness of the power of God, and powerful testimony that Jesus is the genuine Messiah. None of the disciples of the Pharisees, Sadducees, or other anti-Jesus groups, were resurrected. Nor were any of their dead resurrected. Only genuine saints were revived. Each lived out the rest of their life and later died again.

This is a Bible precedent of a resurrection back to mortal life--for the purpose of short dramatic witness about what God is doing--and whom he is working through.

God is capable of resurrecting Herbert W Armstrong for a similar purpose.

Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that the endtime Elijah may yet also be one of the Two Witnesses.

The day Mr Armstrong quietly died and was revived in 1977 was the same day Elvis Presley died with worldwide media attention. Was this merely a co-incidence, or did Satan engineer Elvis’s death on that day to detract from the important meaning of Mr Armstrong’s recovery? The subsequent myth that sprung up that Elvis was alive after dying, further suggests a deliberate counterfeit to draw attention away from the significance of events on that day concerning the endtime Elijah.

Jesus Christ is coming back to the Spiritual Temple, which Herbert W Armstrong was used to build. Mr Armstrong certainly would be the best human judge of its condition, were he alive. The altar symbolizes the ministry. The laymembers worship within the Temple. They are now scattered in hundreds of organizations; alone; or partially or completely fallen away from the Truth which Elijah restored.

Anyone who knows Mr Armstrong knows he would be mighty upset with the present condition of the scattered ministry and members.

Should Herbert W Armstrong be resurrected to be one of the Two Witnesses, it would more fully corroborate his belief that he was also a latter-day Zerubbabel.

"The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you" (Zechariah 4:9).

This would in any case apply to Mr Armstrong in the Millennium when helping re-educate Israel; and in the Great White Throne Judgment--when he will deal with the Kings and heads of State to whom he had prophesied before he died.

If Mr Armstrong was correct about himself being typified by Zerubbabel, then it may also be true that his son Garner Ted is, as some have thought, typified by Joshua the High Priest.

"And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said to Satan, The LORD rebuke you, O Satan; even the LORD that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now J o s h u a  w a s  c l o t h e d  w i t h  f i l t h y  g a r m e n t s, and stood before the angel” (Zechariah 3:1-3).

Note that in Bible language new garments can refer to a new body. And, fire can refer to the Great Tribulation. "He that overcomes, the same hall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" (Revelation 3:5). Biblically clothes symbolize one's spiritual condition. In the first resurrection it will be righteousness with a new body.

In Joshua's case, there are conditions after he's given new garments.

"And he answered and spoke to those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And to him he said, Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with  c h a n g e  o f  r a i m e n t.  And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair  m i t r e  u p o n  h i s  h e a d, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

"And the angel of the LORD protested to Joshua, saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts; I f you will walk in my ways, and i f you will keep my charge, then you shall also judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you places to walk among these that stand by. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you, and y o u r fellows that sit before you: for they [are] men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

"For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, says the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day, says the LORD of hosts, shall you call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree" (Zechariah 3:4-10).

The context of the above passage is immediately prior to and after the Messiah's arrival. A high ranking servant of God will have sinned, but be cleansed by God and be given restored authority, on condition that he repents. Mr Armstrong judged that his youngest son, the once heir apparent to whom he originally passed his mantle, did transgress the Laws of God in an unacceptable way, and was dismissed.

He started his own organization, maintaining his understanding of the Laws of God, and most of what his father taught, except for certain areas the Apostle regarded as important. Some of those areas are Church Government, Eras of the Church, and God's Protection of the Church during The Tribulation.

However, "the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29 NKJV). If God calls someone to do a job, that job will be done.

It is possible that Mr Armstrong's son--who now not only sounds like--but looks like his father--may yet be called upon by God to be one of his Two Witnesses. Either as subordinate to his resurrected father, (or whoever is the First Witness), which would send a powerful message to others in a Laodicean condition that they must submit to the lines of authority in the Church--as the elder Armstrong taught--if they are to be saved by God.

A similar picture is painted in the Book of Haggai.

"...[Then] came the word of the LORD...saying, Speak now to Zerubbabel ...and to Joshua...and to the residue [or remnant] of the people, saying, Who [is] left among you that saw this house in her first glory?"

This may be a reference to the Philadelphia Era condition of the Church, or the sixth Era of the Spiritual House of God--the Worldwide Church of God at its height.

"...and how do you see it now?"

This may refer to the Laodicean Era condition of the scattered Church after Mr Armstrong's death.

"[Is it] not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua...; and be strong, all you people... says the LORD, and work: for I [am] with you..."

The repetition of the word "strong" in reference to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people of God, may prove to be an allusion to the two Arm-strongs and their followers, whom outsiders called "Armstrongites".

Notice this Zerubbabel and Joshua are active in the period shortly b e f o r e the Day of the LORD; Either in the Tribulation or the period shortly before it. In other words, near the end of the endtime.

"For thus says the LORD of hosts; Yet once [more], it [is] a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry [land]; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations [the Messiah] shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts...The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, says the LORD of hosts..."(Haggai 2:1-9).

The Philadelphia Era--House of God--however, was started somewhere between Herbert W Armstrong's 1926 calling, and the 1933 incorporation of the Radio Church of God. Therefore, a Zerubbabel appearing for the first time shortly before the Day of the LORD--could not have laid the foundation for the endtime Church--which Mr Armstrong did at least 75 years earlier.

"The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you" (Zechariah 4:9).

That may be another indication that the endtime Elijah may have to be resurrected to complete his work as one of the Two Witnesses.

The Laodicean Era is judged by Christ in Revelation 3, to be neither hot, nor cold--not wholeheartedly committed to God's program for the Church. "Laodicea" means "the people decide", which is another way of saying "democracy". Democracy is decidedly not the way the Government of God works, Herbert W Armstrong proved and taught. It is, however, the very American system that many of the fractured remnants of the Church there, have reverted to. As people schooled in, and living in a society which promotes that way of life, it was doubtless natural for many to turn back to American democratic ideals in the time of trouble.

"Laodicea" can also mean "the judgment of the people". That is, the democratic discernment of the people; or the implied judgment of God on the people for having this approach.

Church Government--as all spiritual lessons learnt now--are not just for now. They are relevant to the Kingdom of God. When the 144,000 Firstfruits are resurrected to immortality with great power compared to what they once had, they will not be allowed to do anything at anytime. There'll be no wandering off on impromptu sightseeing trips in the vast Universe. No blowing up of planets for fun. No misuse of power. The 144,000 Firstfruits have been called for a job. They will have to exercise greater patience and self-control than ever exercised in this life, and greater respect for God-given authority.

Therefore, the lesson of obeying the Government of God is a crucial one for everyone whom God will raise--especially in the First Resurrection.

Whoever they turn out to be, the Two Witnesses are described as "...the two olive trees, and the two [lampstands] standing before the God of the earth" (Revelation 11:4). The word "candlesticks" is more accurately translated "lampstands".

"...What [are] these two olive trees upon the right [side] of the [lampstand] and upon the left [side] thereof?...These [are] the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth" (Zechariah 4:11,14).

Anointing with olive oil symbolizes receipt of the Holy Spirit and a certain God-given office of responsibility and authority.

"...the seven [lampstands] which you saw are the seven churches" (Revelation 1:20). That is, they are the 7 eras of the true Church prophesied about in Revelation 2 and 3.

Since the Two Witnesses are the two olive trees AND the two lampstands, it indicates that they are part of and represent two different Eras of the Church--logically the last two: Philadelphia and Laodicea. And, that they are supported by the membership of the remnants of those two Eras of the Church.

In Daniel 12:5-8, two men are described who seem to this author to be the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11. They are on the opposite banks of a river. One is above (North), the other below (South). The one above is clothed in linen, a symbol of righteousness. He also knows precisely where he is in the prophetic endtime scheme of things, that there are 1260 days left before the end. Therefore, he must be a prophet.

There are only 3 major prophets whom God promised to send in the endtime. Elijah and the Two Witnesses. The 1260 Days start a f t e r Elijah's Restoration. It is the length of time the Two Witnesses prophesy.

Therefore, the man in linen must symbolize that one of the Two Witnesses who represents the sixth and Philadelphia Era of the Church. He may also be the one (of six men) who is clothed in linen, with a writer's inkhorn, described in Ezekiel 9 and 10. (Mr Armstrong was a prolific writer, who used his gift to restore Truth in the Church).

The man in linen was told to "...Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof".

His companions were told at God's command to "Go you after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have you pity: Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom [is] the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which [were] before the house" (Ezekiel 9:4-6).

Verses 8-9 shows this refers to the endtime remnant of the House of Israel and House of Judah. That is, to the nations listed at the end of The article identifying the Tribes of Israel today.. But this may also have a dual application regarding apostate Spiritual Jerusalem, or that part of the Church which has fallen away, and/or is Laodicean.

The man on the southern bank of the river remains silent, suggesting he recognizes the authority of the man on the northern bank.

The original Greek description of the seven messengers to the seven Church Eras, means they could be both angels and/or men. Herbert W Armstrong was the human messenger from God to the Philadelphia Era of the true Church.

God may deem it necessary to resurrect him to represent that Era at the end, as he did throughout its tenure. If so, there will be only two prophets in the endtime, after all. But it would also be further confirmation that Herbert W Armstrong is indeed a prophet of God.

On the other hand, remarkable men succeeded both Moses and the original Elijah. Joshua took over from Moses, and was an extraordinary example of righteousness. Elisha took over from Elijah, receiving his mantle and a double-portion of the Holy Spirit, which Elijah had.

Therefore, the Two Witnesses may be men other than the two Armstrongs, but if so, they will have to have come out of the last two Eras of the Church, both of which stem from the Work of Herbert W Armstrong.

The double-portion of the Spirit, which Elisha received, represented the inheritance of the firstborn. Herbert W Armstrong was the firstborn (metaphorically) of those called by God in the endtime. However, if the senior of the Two Witnesses is one of his disciples--rather than himself--it's likely to be the person whom God regards as the firstborn of Mr Armstrong's disciples, (allegorically). As is shown in The article identifying the Tribes of Israel today., that is often not the person in strict line of descent--or not the most seemingly senior person.

The Two Witnesses cannot, therefore, be Jews who have never been part of the two final lampstands--the endtime Church. They could be ethnic Jews who are also in the true Church. If so, they are likely to be descendants of one of the prophets or patriarchs, to whom the promises of God were made (Romans 15:8).

Whoever the Two Witnesses turn out to be, they are going to have one of the most difficult assignments of any of God's servants. They will be facing the two most powerful human leaders in history--the Beast and False Prophet--who will be directly empowered and encouraged by Satan and his demons.

Although they will come with the full authority of God (and true history) behind them, the majority of the world will reject their message.

Jesus made the point: "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (Luke 16:31).

Therefore, even if the endtime Elijah is resurrected from the dead, to be one of the Two Witnesses, many people will make the big mistake of not listening to him.

Those who will heed the Two Witnesses are the 144,000 converts from the 12 literal Tribes of Israel; and "...a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and [languages]...These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (see Revelation 7).

Whoever they turn out to be, if you wish to be on God's side, you are going to have to heed the message of his Two Witnesses--and not be deceived by their two opponents, Satan's Beast and False Prophet.

The name of "Elijah" the prophet (Eliahu haNavi) means "God is [the true] God". His name summarizes the nature of both the original and the endtime Elijah's Work--of exposing the counterfeit "god" Satan, and his false prophets, and revealing who the genuine God is.

Two of the main Commandments of the genuine God are:

"You shall make you n o i d o l s nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall you set up [any] image of stone in your land, to bow down to it: for I [am] the LORD your God. You shall k e e p m y s a b b a t h s [weekly and annual], and reverence my sanctuary: I [am] the LORD" (Leviticus 26:1-2).

HERBERT W ARMSTRONG PROMOTED THE LAW OF GOD AS THE ENDTIME ELIJAH WAS PROPHESIED TO. WHETHER OR NOT HE IS RESURRECTED TO BE ONE OF THE TWO WITNESSES, ONE OF THE SIGNS OF THEIR GENUINENESS IS THAT THEY WILL ALSO PROMOTE GOD'S LAW.

Postscript: Since writing the above, Garner Ted Armstrong died 15 September 2003. If his father is raised as the Philadelphian lampstand, then it stands to reason, his son will be raised as the Laodicean lampstand.