2009

I Will Send Elijah to Restore All Things

BY DAVID C. PACK

God prophesied, “I will send you Elijah…before the…day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5). Christ said this man would “restore all things” (Matt. 17:11). What did He mean? Who is this person? Has he already come? Is he yet to appear? Was he Herbert W. Armstrong? Will he be one of the Two Witnesses—or someone else? How is he recognized? Can he be identified? If there is proof, what is it? How significant is this issue? What implications derive from it and is there danger in ignoring or minimizing its proper understanding? It is time to end the confusion and deception clouding this great prophecy. Here is the truth about the end-time Elijah!

A Crucial Video Message (24:49)

INTRODUCTION

You are holding one of the most important pieces of literature you could read. It is written with a tone of urgency and pulls no punches. While it could have been a long “scholarly” book, taking an academic, “even-handed” tone—appearing neutral until the conclusion—it is not, because I am not neutral on this matter. Since the evidence on one side is overwhelming, I do not need to be, and that approach to this subject would look foolish. Soft, smooth, neutral messages are left to the many others willing to deliver them, even on issues of monumental importance.

Following the apostates, certain splinter leaders, in effect, became virtual enemies of the understanding that the entire Church once shared. Over time, their assault on Herbert W. Armstrong’s role has become clear. Since there is no avoiding reference to them, certain leaders are silhouetted here.

In 2000, I wrote the booklet Is ‘THAT PROPHET’ Alive Today? (now a book with a similar title), profiling a particular leader who had taken to himself multiple offices the Bible says belong only to Jesus Christ or the Father. The following quote, under the subhead “No Desire to Attack,” explained a dilemma I faced in writing that booklet. Faced with a similar dilemma here, I have decided to include that explanation:

“True ministers strive not to attack. They are for the truth rather than against people—and there is a big difference. I have determined to actively resist and teach against any false doctrines that are deceiving people among the splinters. But this subject presents me with a unique problem, requiring explanation.

“When a leader teaches a false concept or doctrine, it rarely has anything to do with himself. Generally, the heresy can be clearly singled out and countered without having to necessarily address the man who teaches it. For instance, if someone teaches that Christians are ‘born again’ in this life or ‘the Sabbath is done away,’ it is easy to counter such claims with the truth, without attacking the particular men teaching these errors. But consider! What if the heresy is inseparable from who and what a leader says that he is?

“What if the matter is also at the core of who a Christian worships?

“Does a true minister say, ‘I cannot dispel this kind of false teaching because if I do I would also attack its author’? The reasoning might continue, ‘I know that this man is deceiving thousands, but I cannot address his error, or try to help those he is deceiving, because I would also be attacking him, not just his heresy.’ The problem could go further. If a man claimed to be Moses, Elijah, one of the Two Witnesses or another great servant of God, must we give him a ‘free pass’ because, in dispelling such an outrageous idea, we would also appear to be attacking the man making the claim? What if someone stated that God had revealed to him that he was an apostle? Can we not question—prove—him? What if he asserted himself to be Christ? The question looms even larger. You see the point.

“When Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal, did he attack them? No! God inspired Isaiah to ‘Cry aloud and spare not!…Show My people their sins!’ (58:1). I am doing that—and it will soon be evident that one of the greatest sins a Christian can commit lies at the heart of the subject we are addressing.

“I am under no illusion. This book (“That Prophet”) will evoke a ferocious attack against me personally. However, a faithful minister always strives to ‘lay down his life for the sheep.’ Believe me, I am not a masochist, and I do not enjoy persecution anymore than you. But my job is to help God’s people make it into His kingdom. If I can help one, even at some personal expense, it is worth it!

“Do not be duped into believing that if a minister fights for God’s sheep (John 10:11-13) when they are being deluded by a leader elevating himself into extraordinary offices he does not hold, the minister has attacked, slandered or name-called the man. I hope you can understand that somebody had to write this book, even at the risk of being called an accuser. There is no way to separate this doctrine from the man who teaches it! I hope that you understand what is at stake.”

Much more is at stake within the “Elijah issue” than most even begin to comprehend. Few subjects seem to inherently carry the potential to so greatly inspire or so deeply anger. Hopefully, this book will elicit the first response in many, but it will certainly provoke the latter in others.

The Restored Church of God (RCG) has created all of the tools necessary to help people who love the full restored truth of God to understand the many events surrounding the apostasy. All uncompromising brethren must know where they can have that truth returned to them. This book is one of ten pieces of literature written specifically for that purpose. (The others are listed at the back, with the book “Anoint Your Eyes” – Christ’s Warning to His People and The Government of God as the two crucial centerpieces overarching the others.)

This book must be read in its entirety. No portion, chapter or group of chapters within it represents the full picture. It contains important material that steadily builds upon itself. Therefore, it should be read as is—rather than by hopping around to what may be favorite areas of interest. Also, if you are going to take the time to read it, do so with an open mind. Otherwise, you will only hurt yourself. If you read looking for “loose bricks,” you will probably “find” some. In any event, you will face an enormous decision after reading what is explained here—one that cannot be avoided.

Consider whether to proceed or to put it down now!

I must add a word to all those reading this book who are learning God’s truth for the first time. The Elijah issue is vitally important doctrine. But it has become a matter of great controversy among God’s people. As you prove God’s truth, and the location of His true Church, you cannot escape addressing this crucial issue. When you understand this truth, many other things fall into place, making the overall understanding of events, in both the last century and the years ahead, much easier!

May God help you understand and internalize the towering Elijah prophecy!

CHAPTER ONE –

FRAMING THE QUESTION AND CONFLICT

In the fall of 1933, an extraordinary prophecy, carrying enormous implications, began to be fulfilled. It was completed a little over 52 years later, in early 1986. Over 150,000 people once understood it. Yet, few of these people now seem to even remember this prophecy—though we will see that it is arguably the third most important in the Bible, behind the First and Second Comings of Christ.

God called Herbert W. Armstrong in the fall of 1926 and he was baptized six months later. He was ordained by the Church of God in 1931, and God used him to begin the Philadelphian era of the Church in October of 1933.

Mr. Armstrong led the Worldwide Church of God (formerly the Radio Church of God until 1968) from 1934 until his death in 1986. Over the course of his long ministry, hundreds of millions heard his voice and read his literature. The scope and power of that ministry was unprecedented in 2,000 years of New Testament Church history—and probably in all history!

Over time, God revealed, through this man, hundreds of true doctrines, which had been lost over the centuries. In a clear and powerful way, until his death, he also warned of terrible national calamities prophesied for the modern nations descended from ancient Israel. Even though he came under extraordinary attack throughout his life, he never allowed this to deter him. Although Mr. Armstrong is gone, the huge impact of his ministry and God’s warning through him still resonate—and, more than ever, so do the relentless attacks against him and what he taught.

False Leaders, Then Confusing Disagreement

In the years after Mr. Armstrong’s death, false leaders captured the corporate Church and ceased to believe and teach all of the doctrines revealed through him. Approximately 80% of the Church completely departed from the truth, with the remaining 20% scattering into various splinters holding to differing amounts of the truth. Most agreed on certain basic doctrines, but disagreed on many others. The problem is best defined in this way:

While most agreed that they disagreed with Mr. Armstrong on various doctrines, they could not agree on where they disagreed. Because of this, thousands found themselves no longer able to walk together (Amos 3:3) in the unity the Church once enjoyed. As a result, they scattered into many organizations—where they could meet with others of generally similar belief.

The Elijah Controversy Appears

One of the largest disagreements lies in whether Mr. Armstrong fulfilled the role of the final “Elijah”—foretold to come prior to the Day of the Lord and the Return of Christ. Jesus prophesied that this man would “restore all things” and, of course, this means to the Church of God at the end of the age. (Chapter Two examines the actual prophecy.) If Mr. Armstrong was this man, then all of the truths that he taught must be retained—held fast. The implications for any who reject his role, after seeing the proofs, are tremendous!

This book examines, in detail, why this is so—and why many have chosen to reject the fulfillment.

Sadly, so many who state that they want to “hold fast to the truth” have exempted this profoundly great doctrine. They seem able to recognize that all or most of the other established doctrines suffered the assault of the apostates’ deceit, while thinking the “Elijah understanding” was never really part of the “sound doctrine” the Church once taught. Another possibility is that many have come to foolishly believe it is not the kind of understanding vulnerable to deceit. While this seems unlikely, it is more likely that most simply see the Elijah prophecy as something open to opinion and speculation—one person’s thinking is as good as another.

Who Started It?

Nearly all who left the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) unwittingly absorbed and carried, hidden in their “baggage,” false doctrines taught to them by the apostates. As a result, the apostates still control them where they now reside!

Actually, it was a certain renowned “Dr.” in Pasadena who long believed and privately taught to any who would listen that one of the Two Witnesses, NOT Mr. Armstrong, would be the final Elijah. In fact, most today have no idea that this man, now deceased, believed this! During the apostasy, this man accepted an avalanche of other false doctrines. Although he never made it out of the WCG (but is said to have quietly led the underground “resistance” there until his death)—his false theory did! Certain ministerial “followers” still privately expound his “wisdom” from their new homes in the splinters. In turn, these followers have trained their own disciples in his false counter-theory. Several followers have since helped this “Dr.” successfully discredit Mr. Armstrong’s role by continuing to spread his theory to the majority in the splinters.

Ask: Would God use a largely apostate evangelist—no matter his long seniority—to expose Mr. Armstrong’s supposed “error” on the Elijah issue?

So many cannot grasp the overarching significance of this understanding, and its relationship to the entire apostasy—and, we will learn, the whole world! No doubt, this is because most never recognized the full meaning of the Elijah understanding in the first place. Even the Jews’ terribly misguided belief about the final Elijah is not as mixed-up as is the wrong thinking of many confused brethren.

Some brethren do seem to understand at least a little of the significance of identifying who fulfilled this role. But whether it can be proven that Mr. Armstrong was the Elijah is certainly a question in the minds of many. Speculation and opinions run rampant on this subject, having caused a virtual “cottage industry” of ideas and discussions to appear, primarily attempting to debunk Mr. Armstrong’s fulfillment. Some counter-understanding is poorly conceived and some is absolutely ludicrous. Nearly all of it is full of deceit. I heard a 2001 sermon, which received wide distribution, attacking those who correctly believe and teach this doctrine, virtually labeling them as false prophets. Having become blind to the grave danger of rejecting the Church’s previous understanding, large numbers seem willing to believe that Mr. Armstrong’s fulfillment was little more than a theory—an interesting possibility. Again, we will carefully examine the scope of this danger later.

Those who have become confused on this doctrine generally fall into four categories. We will also examine a fifth group that is not confused, and learn why.

The First Group

The first category consists of those who have rejected this doctrine, for whatever reason. They may or may not have made up their minds in a permanent way, but, at this time, they do not accept this understanding. These people are usually victims of either one of two particularly cunning deceivers who have carefully crafted the “case” against Mr. Armstrong’s Elijah role.

The single greatest opponent of this truth, an evangelist leading a large splinter, was once disfellowshipped by Mr. Armstrong for over eight months. We will see that his thinking is shot full of extreme cunning, deceit, incredibly bad logic and poor scriptural understanding. Also, his private resentment for what he felt Mr. Armstrong unjustly did to him fuels his attack.

However, he is fooling many trusting people because he continually states that he “loves Mr. Armstrong,” and “we honor Mr. Armstrong.” The WCG false leaders and all the splinter leaders, who themselves teach many false doctrines, always assert that they, too, “love Mr. Armstrong,” and they all regularly “kiss his tomb” (Matt. 23:29) to prove it.

Understand! The Pope, Billy Graham and about everyone else would say that they “love Mr. Armstrong.” Not even the devil would attempt to deceive you by starting with the words “I hate Mr. Armstrong,” or even “I do not like Mr. Armstrong.” Most splinter leaders often add, “He was a fine man” or “He was, or probably was, an apostle”—before they proceed to tell you why he was wrong about various things. They understand that their chance to pull you into wrong doctrine and thinking is much greater if they can appear to respect and generally agree with Mr. Armstrong.

God’s enemies always attack His greatest servants, while loudly asserting that they are not. Wake up to this and think about it as you read this book. Then consider your leaders!

Invariably, those who no longer believe that Mr. Armstrong was the Elijah have accepted many additional doctrinal errors. This book explains why losing the vital Elijah understanding is the door into Laodicea. The direct connection between this understanding and holding fast will be plainly demonstrated later.

Those who are part of the first category generally comprise the two largest of the many doctrinally unsound splinters. While most in these two organizations will probably never awaken (or re-awaken) to the importance of the Elijah understanding, some few will! It may be that many in category one could yet have an opportunity to come to their senses—with God’s help—if they “anoint their eyes” as Christ instructed (Rev. 3:18).

Actually, it is the faulty thinking of this first group that brought me to conclude that I must write this volume. I decided I could no longer allow the clever “logic” of false teachers to go unchallenged—because far too much is at stake for thousands of people. This meant we were forced to address the deception on this crucial issue in a way that goes beyond our four earlier “Elijah” sermons.

It is my hope that this book will hit you with the force of a wrecking ball. Yet, though conclusive, it will not help those who are willingly ignorant or truly committed to following someone who has his own doctrinal agenda. Such people could no more accept one who “restored all things” than could the apostates themselves. Though dissimilar, both kinds of leaders have their own doctrinal agendas apart from God’s truth!

There is another reason many have rejected our previous understanding—they have been repulsed by, and have recoiled from, the bizarre beliefs of many who comprise the second and third groups described below. Many in this first group have “thrown the baby out with the bath water.” Let me explain.

The Second Group

The second category is best described as those who do believe this teaching, but who have also accepted many bizarre, strange prophetic ideas taught by one leader who asserts that he is “That Prophet” of Deuteronomy 18:15, among numerous other divine titles that he applies to himself. This blasphemous false prophet takes to himself many titles belonging only to God and/or Christ. (Our book IS “THAT PROPHET” ALIVE TODAY? – The Rise of False Prophets exposes, in careful detail, the enormous danger of his thinking.)

Consider! The devil hates all the truth of God. He hates that any of it was restored to God’s Church. Obviously, he also hates Mr. Armstrong and everything about him. Therefore, he would like nothing more than to discredit Mr. Armstrong’s fulfillment. It serves his purpose to make as many people as possible, who do hold to the Elijah teaching, look like radical extremists on the “lunatic fringe” of Christianity. He recognizes that if he can surround this correct understanding with outright prophetic craziness and junk, and other bizarre thinking, he can automatically discredit Mr. Armstrong’s role in the minds of many.

In other words, linking Mr. Armstrong’s fulfillment directly to a kook works marvelously in making this doctrine repugnant to reasonable minds. It also allows the leader of one of the largest splinters to appear reasonable when he openly rejects the correct understanding about Mr. Armstrong as something now only believed by those he labels as “oddballs” and “kooks.” This has made it easier for this deceiver to then discount those who still hold to the Church’s previous understanding as people who, as he put it, “worship Mr. Armstrong like some kind of god.”

The leaders of categories one and two regularly attack each other. Both want to appear to hold the high ground—while each actually stands in a ditch! Leader one attacks leader two as a false prophet oddball who worships Mr. Armstrong. Leader two attacks leader one as a rebel heretic who rejects Mr. Armstrong as Elijah. The result is thousands of confused, sickened and turned-off people, with thousands of others each backing their chosen champion.

Of course, many who once followed the leader of group two have escaped him. Others reject his bizarre ideas, but see no viable option—the alternative where the people of category five fellowship! Yet, over time, more people will escape his organization, and some will find this alternative.

The Third Group

The third category is an even more extreme version of category two. This group believes that, as the Elijah, Mr. Armstrong was so holy—so special—that only he was commissioned—or even permitted—by God to warn the nations of modern Israel or to announce the kingdom of God to the world at the end of the age. Anyone else who attempts to do this is considered presumptuous, rebellious or ignorant of Mr. Armstrong’s supposed instruction to now only “prepare the Church for the Wedding Supper.”

Invariably, this category is also home to an increasing number of people with extreme and very strange prophetic ideas. In their misguided zeal, these people seem to enshrine Mr. Armstrong as beyond human. Their warped personal feelings for him seem to supersede any obligation or responsibility to preach the kingdom of God or to warn of the terrible calamities lying ahead for America and Britain, and other Western countries. They see no further need to share the treasure of God’s truth and the gospel with anyone beyond themselves. In effect, this means that for what has become almost 20 years, the traditional Work of God is no longer to be done. These people cannot comprehend that the ongoing need to continue God’s Work did not end after the appearance of the two previous Elijahs (the second was John the Baptist).

I wish that many of these people could have personally known Mr. Armstrong. They have absolutely no idea that he would have forcefully pointed out the error of their unbalanced thinking—and would have disfellowshipped certain of them, because of their selfish, lazy, rebellious unwillingness to work. Mr. Armstrong wrote scores of times that our “heart must be in the Work,” often tying it to the very purpose for our calling. He taught this so often that it became doctrine—and he also often stated that the Work would continue until the Tribulation. Category three people seem to willingly ignore this.

Sadly, these generally very accusative people are so upside-down in their thinking they believe that anyone who does the Work is in rebellion. In almost every case, they once followed the false prophet of category two. Upon leaving him, they typically join “slivers” that are merely “moons” trapped in the gravitational pull of the splinter “planet” that they think they have escaped. (To understand the ludicrous, even satanic, nature of this “the work is over” thinking, read our thorough book The Work of God – Its Final Chapter! You will never again doubt that the true Work of God must continue until the Tribulation.)

The Fourth Group

The fourth category is probably the simplest to describe. This group believes, to some degree, that Mr. Armstrong was, or probably was, the Elijah. Their problem lies in that they are blind to the implications—the enormous ramifications—of this understanding. They seem unable to grasp why it is important to recognize Mr. Armstrong’s role. It is as though they agree that it is a “nice idea”—that it is “possibly true,” “probably true” or even “certainly true”—but they hold no conviction about its significance. They miss its connection to many other elements of doctrinal and prophetic understanding—and to Philadelphians’ central instruction to “hold fast” to protect their crown (Rev. 3:11).

The leader of the biggest splinter’s large, 1998 offshoot once remarked that he generally believes Mr. Armstrong was the Elijah. However, the amount of false doctrine this man teaches reveals his lack of understanding of what Mr. Armstrong’s role means. Many sincere people in his organization are learning that their ministry disconnects the prophecy from its implications.

The Fifth Group

All of these categories, but most particularly two and three, obscure the fact that many hundreds of brethren—the fifth category—do have a balanced approach both to Mr. Armstrong’s role and to its implications.

These people do not ignore the obvious facts—the PROOF of this fulfillment. They do not follow a false prophet, and do not believe countless crazy prophetic ideas. They understand the Work is not over until the Tribulation. And they do not reflect the unsound, unlearned, untrained, unbalanced, unteachable and ungovernable attitudes obvious in so many category two and three people who cannot see beyond the single point of merely who was the Elijah.

This fifth category also does not slander and attack confused brethren on this or any other matter. This said, I cannot avoid profiling those leaders who subtly attack Mr. Armstrong while denying that they are.

Summarizing the Devil’s Goal

Many lazy extremists now believe that Mr. Armstrong was the Elijah, while virtually all the remaining proud, doctrinally-unsound, “respected” senior ministers do not believe it or will not preach it if they do. The devil wins when “the blind follow their blind leaders” into either ditch.

Be under no illusion—deceivers and attackers will try to defeat the scriptural soundness and proofs here! You must recognize who is the one guiding their efforts, and that sound minds (II Tim. 1:7) see through unsound fables (II Tim. 3:13-14; 4:3-4)—and unsound leaders!

Understand that no book of this kind could answer every conceivable objection that the devil or human nature can devise. Therefore, any attempt to counter false thinking has a reasonable and natural limit. Recognize that this lengthy book could be even longer. However, no one else has really attempted to correctly address this subject to any thorough degree.

So, while I have tried to write this book as a defense against the assault on Mr. Armstrong, it must have a limit. A wise minister told me long ago that when I had done all that I could in trying to help someone, “God’s Spirit now has a job to do.” After you finish this material, you will have read the great preponderance of evidence—and God’s Spirit truly will have a job to do in your mind.

The first and most important evidence to consider is what God’s Word reveals about the prophecy.

CHAPTER TWO –

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES

In this chapter, we will examine the Old and New Testament verses describing the Elijah prophecy. Perhaps the biggest reason so many have lost this understanding is that they have forgotten the many verses revealing and explaining it. These require careful review.

Throughout this chapter, we will periodically intermingle some of the proofs that Mr. Armstrong was the Elijah—and that this role is not to be fulfilled by one of the Two Witnesses or anyone else. Occasionally, we will even take supposed “proofs” that one of the Two Witnesses will be the Elijah, and see that they are actually proofs of Mr. Armstrong’s fulfillment—in some cases, powerful proofs!

Malachi 4:5-6

The Elijah prophecy first appears in the last two verses of the Old Testament, at the end of Malachi (4:5-6), written about 500 years before Christ’s First Coming. The magnitude of meaning in this passage is stunning. It sets the stage for seeing why the Elijah prophecy is so important, and why God would never allow its fulfillment to stand in doubt for all with “eyes to see” and “ears to hear.” Accept these next verses for what they say. After reading them, we will pose a critical question. Also, the preceding verse four is included since it is often cited as supposed “proof” that a second Moses will join Elijah as the other Witness:

“Remember you the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments [vs. 4]. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord [vs. 5]: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (vs. 6).

The word “curse” comes from the Hebrew word cherem, and is better translated “extermination, utter destruction or doom.” Consider this phrase for exactly what it says, neither adding to nor taking from it.

Let’s understand the meaning here. God declares that He would utterly destroy—exterminate—doom—the entire planet, if one lone man did not come PRIOR to the Day of the Lord. This is an absolutely incredible statement. It carries the most profound implications. In other words, God states that this one man’s appearance stands between Him (God) and the destruction of all mankind!

It should now be obvious why I said that this prophecy is arguably the third most important in the Bible. What other whole group of prophecies, if they failed to occur, carry such profound ramifications?

The Bible is approximately one-third prophecy—or about 250,000 words. Take a moment and ask: What single prophecy even begins to rival this one in importance? Also, could a prophecy so huge—so enormous—so staggering in impact—be fulfilled, and afterwards, no one be able to prove it? Would God leave such an important prophecy open for debate—where, like agnostics toward God’s existence, people could only say “I just don’t know”—or “We can’t know”? No serious thinker could believe this.

The statement “I just don’t know” sounds fair, sincere—open-minded. The splinter leader described in Chapter One, who denies Mr. Armstrong’s role, said three times in his sermon, “If the Bible doesn’t say so, we don’t know.” Does any serious person think that God would actually name the Elijah in His Word? Must God actually NAME Mr. Armstrong for us to know he had fulfilled this role? Of course not! What would be the test of faith, including a need to accept proof? (During his latter years, Mr. Armstrong deliberately kept this same man at arm’s length. Despite the fact that he loves to talk about his “thousands of hours in the early years” with Mr. Armstrong, this man did not witness the fullness of Mr. Armstrong’s growth in many areas of doctrinal understanding in the years before he died. This may also partly explain why, in addition to rejecting Mr. Armstrong’s fulfillment, he now teaches over 50 other false doctrines, with more continually appearing.)

Consider this parallel. Converted minds do not doubt the identity of the “beast” of Revelation 13 or the “great whore” of Revelation 17. Yet, God does not actually name either of these in His Word. Why then must He name Mr. Armstrong? In all three cases, God offers sufficient proof for those who will accept it.

You must be willing to examine the evidence.

When dozens of individual prophecies in Daniel 11 were fulfilled, it was clearly known (and no individuals were identified). When Christ’s first appearance fulfilled numerous prophecies, it was clearly known. The destruction of the Temple, in A.D. 69-70, as Christ had foretold, was clearly known. When the Great Tribulation strikes, we will all know. When Christ returns, we will all know. When the devil is bound, we will all know. When the New Heavens and the New Earth arrive, we will all know.

Similarly, the fulfillment of this enormous prophecy is something that converted minds can and should KNOW! To suggest otherwise insults God. In effect, it declares that He did not give us enough information to recognize whether He had fulfilled His Word! We will learn that Christ specifically said that the issue would be settled with each individual—if he had “ears to hear.” The problem would not, and could never, rest with God, but rather with people’s willingness to accept a provable prophecy!

On a side note, we will later discuss that the Jews know Malachi 4:5-6 well, yet are still awaiting this Elijah. As with their rejection of Christ, they reject other important New Testament verses that further qualify how to recognize the last Elijah. You will learn that their confusion carries grave implications for the world—and the Church.

Before continuing, take a moment to note that nothing in Malachi 4:5-6 refers either to the Two Witnesses or to Christ sending Moses with Elijah at the end of the age.

Matthew 17:10-13

Now let’s read an important New Testament passage: “And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias [Elijah] must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that He spake to them of John the Baptist.”

This scripture contains several key points. First, it speaks of two Elijahs—one who “is come already” (John the Baptist) and the second who “truly shall first come,” prior to Christ’s second Coming. Jesus could not possibly have been speaking of John the Baptist in both past and future tense. He clearly spoke of two separate men. Also, John did not come just before the Day of the Lord, but rather almost 2,000 years prior to it!

Second, the latter-day Elijah was foretold to “restore all things.” John restored nothing, to the Church or anyone or anything else. Over the course of an approximately one-year ministry (with about another six months in prison), he merely announced Christ’s first Coming and baptized many, probably in advance of a later conversion, as a means of “preparing a people for the Lord.”

Third, Jesus makes a tremendously important statement (about John) with a message for our time. Though there were clear differences, John was a type of the final Elijah. And, despite the fact that there was no greater human being who ever lived than John, Jesus proclaimed, “They knew him not.”

Could any reasonable person doubt the parallel here with the final Elijah? Mr. Armstrong was generally not known for who he was by the world and, we now know, by most in the Church! Do not miss this point. Some twist it to show that one of the Two Witnesses, through execution—since John was also executed—is a better parallel of Elijah than was Mr. Armstrong.

It is true that John the Baptist was so misunderstood and unappreciated that his persecutors killed him. However, some have said this proves the latter Elijah will be one of the Two Witnesses—simply because these men will be killed also. This ignores Christ’s own explanation of what He meant—what He was referring to—found in the very next phrase. After referring to how John was killed—“they did to him what they listed [wanted]” (vs. 12)—Christ added, “Likewise also shall the Son of man suffer of them.” He did not say, “Likewise also shall one of the Two Witnesses suffer of them.” Christ was pointing to HIMSELF—and his sacrifice—not to the death of one of the Witnesses! Basic reading skills reveal this.

Bear in mind, those who assert this parallel also cite the first three verses of Matthew 17. Indeed, these do describe Christ’s transfiguration (vs. 2) and appearance with Moses and Elijah (vs. 9) in a vision. However, there is no mention or even hint of the Two Witnesses anywhere in this passage. The reference to Elijah is obviously to set up a discussion about both John the Baptist and the final Elijah. I am not saying this—the Bible is! Do not be deceived by people saying that Christ is talking about the Two Witnesses, when CHRIST did not say this is what He was talking about!

Of course, these same people include the Malachi 4:4 reference to Moses as proof that he is the other Witness. But neither Malachi nor Christ says this. However, it is certainly clear that some deceivers will say what Christ and the Bible do not. You be the judge of who to believe—Jesus Christ or those who insert their own interpretation where the Bible points to something entirely different. Sadly, regarding Mr. Armstrong’s fulfillment, some seem to parallel the Scribes’ and Pharisees’ view of John—Christ stated of them, “and they knew him not.”

Luke 1:12-17

Now read the account of an angel telling John’s father of his up-coming birth:

“And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias [Elijah] to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Consider: First, John the Baptist would be “great in the sight of the Lord.” We have learned he was not great in the sight of vast numbers of people. For those with “eyes to see,” this clearly parallels Mr. Armstrong.

Second, he would not come as an actual reincarnation of Elijah, but rather “in the spirit and power of Elijah.” Note that when John said he was not Elijah (John 1:21), he meant one of two possible things: (1) He was not the literal resurrection of the Old Testament prophet Elijah, or (2) he sincerely did not see himself fulfilling this role. John’s father, Zacharias, knew for over thirty years of the role that his son would fulfill. Therefore, at the time John answered that he was not Elijah, it only makes sense that Zacharias would have long since told his son of the angel’s prophecy concerning him! However, like Mr. Armstrong, John then, for some or most of his life, must have shied away from seeing himself as the fulfillment of one so great as Elijah.

Elijah, John and Mr. Armstrong were all similar in that they were passionate men, with significant weaknesses (Elijah was fearful to the point of wanting to die at one point)—and, because of this, none of them saw himself as a great man!

In Chapter Four, we will see that, as Zacharias and Elizabeth his wife knew of their son’s role before he did, some Church publications revealed the understanding of Mr. Armstrong’s role before he publicly acknowledged it.

Mr. Armstrong came to understand hundreds of truths over a period spanning his entire ministry. Late in his life, he often said that he was learning more than at any previous time. Therefore, it is natural that Mr. Armstrong would not have seen himself as the one prophesied to restore all things until later in his ministry—when he had largely finished the process. It should be obvious that only in his latter years could he more clearly see a process that was now mainly behind him. We will learn that this is exactly what happened.

Third, John was foretold to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Of course, he baptized so many that he was referred to as “John the Baptist.” We do not know exactly how many of these people went on to become members of the Church (Acts 19:1-6), but he certainly prepared some.

Malachi 3:1-2

Let’s return to Malachi to review two other critical verses. In context, they actually introduce Malachi 4:5-6:

“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. But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap.”

These verses discuss two different people—two separate Elijahs! The beginning of verse 1 describes John the Baptist. We will see the proof momentarily. John came preparing the way for and announcing Christ’s First Coming. The phrase “even the Messenger of the covenant” is an obvious reference to Christ at His First Coming.

Everything including and following the phrase “and the Lord whom you seek” refers to Christ’s Second Coming. Therefore, the phrase “I will send My messenger” carries a dual meaning. It includes a preparation for and an announcement made by the second Elijah regarding Christ’s Second Coming.

How do we know this?

Verse 2 describes a very different time than the circumstances surrounding Christ’s First Coming. Obviously, everyone was easily able to “abide the day of His (First) Coming.” They were able to kill Him. Christ certainly did not come as “a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap” 2,000 years ago. At His Second Coming, He will. Verses 3 and 4 could only be referring to this event. Read them carefully. No wonder Malachi 4:5 speaks of Elijah coming prior to the Day of the Lord. God would never have Christ return following the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord without first warning the nations of the world of why all this is necessary. After all, events surrounding His Second Coming are cataclysmic, and all-encompassing in scope and nature. They require a tremendous warning and announcement, and this should be most obvious.

Matthew 11:7-15

Let’s now return to another series of verses earlier in Matthew. They offer more insight into John the Baptist, and certain vital lessons for our time. Let’s read carefully:

“And as they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went you out for to see? A prophet? Yes, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before your face, which shall prepare your way before you [Mal. 3:1]. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The six verses preceding this text discuss John having been offended at Christ. Why he allowed this to happen, and what lessons can be learned from it, will be examined in greater detail in the next chapter. But here are several points for consideration now.

Verses 7-9 contain a message for the “multitudes” about how most people at that time were looking for someone other than—and unlike—John the Baptist. The masses had to be told that they had the wrong perspective of what a great servant of God should look like. God’s servants are not skinny “reeds” who blow with the “wind.” Nor do they wear “soft” clothes or look like “kings.” And John was also not “a prophet.” Since he was a forerunner of Mr. Armstrong, this fact is important. Christ said that he (this one who was a type of Elijah) was actually “more than a prophet.”

This is a fascinating statement!

The Bible states plainly in Revelation 11:3 and 10 that the Two Witnesses “are prophets.” Mr. Armstrong was an apostle. This means, quite literally, that he also was “more than a prophet” (I Cor. 12:28-29; Eph. 4:11) and, at the same time, more like John the Baptist than either of the Two Witnesses.

In any event, the multitudes had to be told how to recognize John. Most simply did not “get it.” Frankly, far more people came to recognize after John’s death that he fulfilled the Elijah role than did the relatively few who understood it when he was alive. (Vast millions, or more realistically billions—all who have read the Bible over the last 2,000 years—learned it later.) Remember that Christ had to explain John’s role to the disciples. But after He explained it to them (Matt. 17:13), they understood it!

Back to Matthew 11:14: “And IF you will receive it [the understanding about John], this is Elijah.” Verse 15 concludes, “He that has ears to hear, let him hear.” Again, most did not receive John. They did not have ears to hear!

What about you? Do you see Christ’s subtle warning for those today, regarding the final Elijah? I ask God’s people today, “What went you out to see [from 1934 to 1986]?” Did you expect to see some other kind of person? Will you “receive” Herbert W. Armstrong? Do you have “ears to hear”?

A related point needs examination. Mr. Armstrong has been accused of being a “false prophet” many times. Here is the point—and most never seemed to understand this—Mr. Armstrong was NEVER a prophet. He was always “more than” a prophet—he was an apostle! To those who apparently went out to “see a prophet,” you missed the entire point of one of the greatest reasons why Mr. Armstrong was the final Elijah! It is also one of the reasons that we can now see, in retrospect, his office was greater than that of the Two Witnesses (I, like the rest of the Church, once thought he would be one of them). Mr. Armstrong was an APOSTLE. These men will be PROPHETS. Understand. To assert that the final Elijah will be one of the Witnesses is to, in fact, diminish—reduce!—the office of Elijah.

This point should have been clear to all of God’s people long ago, because the Bible has always been most plain that the Two Witnesses will be prophets, not apostles. Perhaps we might have better understood why Mr. Armstrong recognized that he may not live to the end of the age. His office and role is greater than theirs (so says the New Testament). Not only was he an apostle, but he was also the final Elijah.

The Two Witnesses will be neither!

Luke 4:24-26

This passage explains why Mr. Armstrong was not received as the third Elijah by most who knew him—and it explains why John was not received as the second Elijah by most who knew him. These verses also make reference to the original Elijah, who was a prophet:

“And He said, Verily I say to you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias [Elijah], when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta [Greek: Zarepheth], a city of Sidon, to a woman that was a widow.”

I Kings 17 is an interesting chapter, and one that should be read in the context of this passage. It contains the account that Christ referenced, and discusses events in the life of the Old Testament Elijah. Take time to read it.

Only one widow in the city of Zarephath (Hebrew: Sarepta) gave food and shelter to Elijah (vs. 10). Yet, many widows lived in this city, and any or all of them could have helped him. Like John’s preaching, Elijah’s message was unpopular. Because he had prophesied that no rain would fall on earth for 3½ years, he was very unpopular in his day. As a result, when others could have come forward to support him, only one did. He otherwise stood alone.

As with the original Elijah and John, Mr. Armstrong’s message was very unpopular. Many who did once believe that he was sent by God are now even afraid to give “food and shelter” to his memory. The Restored Church of God is not!

Now note Christ’s statement that “No prophet is accepted in his own country.” This describes how overfamiliarity breeds contempt—in this case, for the greatest of God’s servants. The Corinthians lacked respect for Paul. The Jews crucified Christ. Israelite kings often imprisoned or murdered God’s prophets (Matt. 23:37). Jeremiah was imprisoned and Isaiah was apparently “sawn asunder” (cut in two). Jezebel threatened Elijah with death. Noah temporarily fled to Egypt, before returning to complete the ark. John the Baptist was killed. David was chased and persecuted by Saul—and so on.

A modern paraphrase of Christ’s statement in Luke 4:24 would be something like “No servant of God is accepted in his own time.” Christ said, “A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house” (Matt. 13:57). Let’s apply this principle to our time in a parallel way: “One who is an apostle and the Elijah is not without honor—except in his own Church, and in his own family.”

Make yourself see the powerful point contained in Christ’s warning for our time. Like John, Mr. Armstrong will be honored infinitely more in ages to come than by the relative few with the strength to honor him now!

Isaiah 40:3-5

One more series of Old Testament verses must be understood. They speak of a single voice proclaiming—“crying out”—before Christ’s Return. This voice explains what will happen when the kingdom of God is established:

“The voice [singular] of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.”

The Church’s previous literature and numerous statements from Mr. Armstrong contain references to this passage. Notice that it speaks of “The voice of him.” It cannot be referring to the Two Witnesses, or it would say, “The voices of them” (more than one). Both of these men will witness—both will use their voices. Isaiah 40:3-5 refers to a person who speaks ALONE—a single voice—crying out prior to the Return of Christ!

This is another proof that there are three separate people (Elijah and the Two Witnesses) who carry out separate functions, at different times, prior to Christ’s Return. (One other warns Laodicea and modern national Israel before the Tribulation.) Let no disbelieving, confused deceiver tell you otherwise!

Acts 3:19-21

Finally, some have suggested that the next passage represents the true Elijah fulfillment. It speaks of Christ coming to restore all things. Of course, Christ does, in fact, restore the entirety of God’s Way at His Return. Notice:

“Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution [restoration] of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”

Here is why this cannot refer to the final Elijah. This man comes “prior to” the Day of the Lord. Jesus Christ is sent after it! Enough said.

Now, what did Mr. Armstrong teach about the Elijah prophecy?

CHAPTER THREE –

WHAT MR. ARMSTRONG TAUGHT

In the previous chapter, we learned what the Bible—GOD!—teaches about the final Elijah. This chapter is primarily comprised of statements from Mr. Armstrong, representing his understanding—and official teaching—on the fulfillment of this prophecy. His words require minimal commentary.

Let’s see if he agreed with the Bible.

Removing All Doubt

This chapter removes all doubt concerning what Mr. Armstrong believed about his role. Of course, it will mean nothing to those who do not care what he taught. Such people usually do not care what he taught on any other doctrine—and will not receive any of these teachings. This book is generally not written for them, although I do not preclude that God’s Spirit might awaken some of them, if they read it. However, for those who do value what can be proven that Mr. Armstrong did teach, this chapter establishes it—clearly and emphatically! The plain understanding flowing from these quotes makes its own enormous statement.

The following quotes are presented in chronological order—for two reasons.

First, the splinter leader who denies Mr. Armstrong’s fulfillment states, “Mr. Armstrong went back and forth on this.” You will see that this man speaks falsely—as do so many others who were once close to Mr. Armstrong. Taken from the last six years of Mr. Armstrong’s life, these quotes demonstrate his unwavering consistency!

Second, you will read from his final sermon, and his final book, MYSTERY OF THE AGES, proving what he believed at the very end of his life. Even if he had gone back and forth, which he never did publicly (nor did he ever state this to me privately—and we discussed prophecy for hours), he established his final position before his death.

You will have absolutely no doubt of this.

Mr. Armstrong did, in fact, wrestle back and forth over time on many issues, before reaching a final conclusion. This is natural for anyone. God did not reveal every truth to him in an instant, via a booming voice from heaven. To assert that Mr. Armstrong went “back and forth” is to blur the issue, and throw the dust of confusion into the air through an irrelevant statement. While the purpose is to make Mr. Armstrong appear confused, weak and vacillating, it is really the one saying this who is uncertain, and who has drawn back from believing Mr. Armstrong’s fulfillment.

The prudent see through ploys like this.

Mr. Armstrong apologized for having permitted make-up back into the Church from 1974 to 1981. The argument that he went “back and forth” on this matter has also been used to justify re-allowing the use of make-up—when most women remember exactly what he said. After correcting an error largely committed behind his back, he strongly stated that make-up would return “over my dead body!” This has not stopped women from ignoring his final position on make-up—and his statements here will probably not move most people to repent of rejecting Mr. Armstrong’s fulfillment.

How far will people go to twist his words? Some now argue that God inspired Mr. Armstrong to say “over my dead body” in regard to use of cosmetics because He wanted cosmetics allowed again upon Mr. Armstrong’s death. Astounding!

The second Elijah, John, actually did go “back and forth” on whether Christ WAS CHRIST! Read it for yourself in Matthew 11:2-3, 6. Christ recognized that John was “offended in” Him (Christ). Think of it! Yet, this did not invalidate where John stood at the time he was beheaded, regarding Christ as the Messiah. Neither did it diminish his role as the Elijah who preceded and announced Christ’s First Coming. After such colossal doubt and faithlessness, John was still considered, by the very Jesus Christ whom he doubted, to be the single greatest human being who ever lived. Yes, Christ stoutly defended him in the face of such a terribly wrong attitude.

Ponder this very carefully.

Remember, John had actually heard a voice from heaven, when he baptized Christ, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17)—and yet he doubted. Christ was also his cousin, and had been known to him for thirty years as the Messiah—and yet he doubted. But he was still as great as any human being “born of women”!

Some of Mr. Armstrong’s critics take great delight in pointing out his weaknesses, mistakes, sins and frailties (real or imagined) to prove that he could not have been the Elijah. (However, these same accusers do not want anyone pointing out their doctrinal errors—or God pointing out their sins!) Should you ever be tempted to find Mr. Armstrong’s righteousness insufficient to your standards, think long and hard about the scope of John’s failure.

Human standards of what God should or should not have allowed in Mr. Armstrong’s conduct have been a big roadblock in the thinking of many (particularly among the self-righteous) on this matter. They should reflect on John. While I acknowledge Mr. Armstrong was not perfect, I stoutly defend him—as Christ defended John the Baptist!

1980

Mr. Armstrong died in January 1986. Let’s review his quotes from 1980 to his death. The italicized portion is generally my emphasis throughout:

“I did not know it as a young man, late teens, 20s and into my 30s, but God was guiding my life from birth…Jesus Christ, through His written Word, opened my mind to the prime basic truths He wanted me to have in starting me out as His servant…God’s time had come! His time for one, of whom John the Baptist was type and forerunner, to prepare for Christ’s second coming…I did not seek these basic foundations of truth of my own volition! Jesus Christ revealed them…He was preparing one called and chosen by God, even against that one’s will, for an important service in restoring the law and government of God to earth—even in the comparatively small Worldwide Church of God. He was preparing one whom He conquered and brought to repentance and faith, for this great end-time commission!”

Good News, Apr. 1980, pp. 25-26

“Nineteen-and-a-half centuries ago A VOICE CRIED OUT in the material wilderness of the Jordan River, announcing the imminent coming of the human Jesus to His material Temple and His physical people Judah, who Himself was to announce the far-future KINGDOM OF GOD to take over the GOVERNMENT over all the earth!

“Today God has raised up A VOICE CRYING OUT in the spiritual wilderness of religious and political CONFUSION, announcing the imminent SECOND COMING of the GLORIFIED Jesus in Supreme Almighty POWER to His SPIRITUAL Temple (His Church then translated into Spirit immortality)—to His SPIRITUAL people the Church—this time ESTABLISHING the KINGDOM OF GOD that shall take over the RULE of ALL NATIONS with the GOVERNMENT OF GOD. No longer the government of MAN deceived, swayed and manipulated by SATAN THE DEVIL!

“YOU are one who has been behind that VOICE CRYING OUT THE WORLD’S ONLY GOOD NEWS!”

Co-worker letter, Aug. 27, 1980

1981

“But John the Baptist was a man in the power and spirit of Elijah. John the Baptist came to prepare the way before the First Coming of Christ. He was a type of someone to prepare the way for the Second Coming of Christ.

“I’m going to say something to you now, that I would not have said five or six years ago under any circumstances. I don’t go out trying to fulfill prophecy. BUT Jesus said, by their fruits you know. And sometimes you look back on fruits and you can tell some things you couldn’t tell in advance before the fruits had been performed.

“So now prior to the Second Coming of Christ, there is someone… with a voice in the spiritual wilderness…crying out amid religious confusion…and preparing the way not for a physical Jesus, but a glorified Christ…

“God was going to raise up someone who is going to prepare the way for the Second Coming and calling people, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. That’s exactly what Elijah did physically. He reminded them that they had gotten away from the Kingdom and the Government of God, and needed the restoring of the Government of God.

“And now before the Second Coming, as John the Baptist fulfilled that before the first coming, someone…had to build the spiritual temple. Of course, God is doing it all. Christ is the One who is doing it.

“God has built it, but He has used me.

“Do you think that has happened? Do you think we’re near the time of the coming of Christ? Has anyone proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom of God? Has anyone proclaimed the law of God? Has anyone been calling on them to repent?

“The job God has called me to do is a prophesied job. It has been being done.”

Worldwide News, Mar. 6, 1981, pp. 10-12

None can doubt the plainness of these early statements. The final one mentions Mr. Armstrong’s unwillingness to “try to fulfill prophecy.”

Now ask: Would God permit Mr. Armstrong to so presumptuously—arrogantly—and mistakenly—appoint himself to this enormous role, and still use him as His servant? Do apostles make mistakes of this magnitude and remain apostles? In this light, recognize that, during the latter years of Mr. Armstrong’s life, the period when he had come to fully understand his role as the final Elijah, the fruits of his ministry were greater than at any other time—dwarfing previous periods!

These quotes, and others below, date from when Mr. Armstrong was putting the Church back on track. This resulted in great blessings and growth that had been lacking during the liberal mid-70s. Obviously, God validated him most strongly during the very time he most clearly understood his Elijah fulfillment!

People who worked around Mr. Armstrong remember that he always played down emphasis (and sometimes even grew angry) from those he thought were improperly elevating him. That is a simple fact of history! Mr. Armstrong only came to recognize that he was an apostle in late 1952. Yet, he had probably held this rank for some time by that date, having already known that he was serving as “Watchman” to Israel (Ezek. 33:7) for some years. He understood that whether or not God had “sent” a man to hold this highest office was solely predicated on the man’s “fruit.” Further, he spoke only infrequently of his office prior to 1968, when he began to visit kings—and only much more frequently began to assert his apostolic authority in 1978 when liberals had sought to destroy the Church. Note that he never used the mention of “apostle” on his 1931 ordination certificate because he knew that virtually all Sardis certificates mentioned this office. (He actually first saw the office that he held in 1952.)

Now ask: Does all of this sound like a man seeking to vault himself above where God had stationed him?

When people said that he was “too important to die” (I once foolishly said this to him), he grew angry and felt that the brethren were over-magnifying his office. He also loathed flattery, though, by his own admission, he could not always recognize it. But the arrogant usually crave flattery!

This must be understood, because the senior evangelist who has coveted power over the Church more than any man I have known had the gall to suggest that Mr. Armstrong and others “appointed themselves as Elijah.” I heard his sermon. He does not want those like me testifying to the fact that Mr. Armstrong charged the Advisory Council of Elders, shortly before his death, that he (this man) “must never be allowed to lead the Church.” (At that time, I thought the man Mr. Armstrong did select meant that God had simultaneously blinded him to this evangelist’s hidden loyalty. I was wrong!)

This man has also privately expressed his hope that God will use him to “shake the nations” through many “miracles.” This desire for personal elevation from God will be examined later.

This same man also uttered this in his sermon “The Elijah Question”: “Some people have felt Mr. Armstrong was Elijah.” Like the apostates before him, he suggested that what the entire church, including mr. armstrong, once believed was merely a belief once held by “some people.” The false leaders of the WCG successfully used this ploy time and again when changing a doctrine. They often lumped Mr. Armstrong and the entire Church into a group labeled as merely “some people.” History is repeating itself in the splinters. The famous statement, “Those that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” applies again.

A personal story is in order here. My wife is the only one who can testify to the truth of it. In the days immediately following the start of the receivership, in January 1979, Mr. Armstrong made a remarkable statement to me that sprang from his deep humility. In a moment of great emotion, he stated that he was willing, at age 86, to go to prison before he would let the receiver have God’s tithes! He added that all of the other apostles had done this, and that “maybe he would not even be a true apostle until he demonstrated his willingness to do the same.” These are not the words of a man looking for titles and offices that he could have easily assigned to himself. It reflects the very opposite, and this leads to another story.

Mr. Armstrong’s long-time, personal assistant often alleges that Mr. Armstrong privately doubted he was the Elijah. I liken this to me reporting the above story as supposed proof that Mr. Armstrong privately doubted he was an apostle. Should any believe me, if I asserted such a thing based solely on a moment of Mr. Armstrong’s personal emotion? Of course not! Then why pay attention to similar stories that his chief assistant spins as “proof” from Mr. Armstrong that he was not the Elijah? Now notice:

“As John the Baptist prepared the way, in the PHYSICAL wilderness of the Jordan River for the first coming of the HUMAN Jesus (both man and God), then coming to His MATERIAL temple, and to His PHYSICAL people Judah, ANNOUNCING the Kingdom of God to be set up more than 1,900 years later, SO God would use a human messenger in the SPIRITUAL wilderness of 20th-century religious confusion, to be a voice CRYING OUT the Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD, about the SPIRITUAL CHRIST, coming in SUPREME POWER AND GLORY to His SPIRITUAL TEMPLE, to actually ESTABLISH that spiritual KINGDOM OF GOD.

“Brethren, HAS THAT BEEN DONE BY THIS CHURCH?

“Did God raise up a one-man LEADERSHIP [a ‘voice of one’] to be used by Him...in proclaiming after 1,900 years the true GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD in ALL THE WORLD—to even go to kings and heads of nations (Rev. 10:11)—in bringing the Church back to the FAITH ONCE DELIVERED (Jude 3)?

“HAS THIS HAPPENED, IN YOUR DAYS, AND HAS GOD BROUGHT YOU INTO THIS PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT AS A PART OF IT?

“HAS ANYONE ELSE DONE IT?”

Co-worker letter, Mar. 19, 1981

1982

“God inspired a prophecy in Malachi 3:1-5, saying he would send a human messenger to prepare the way before Christ’s coming: Verses 3 to 5 show the prophecy speaks of one preparing the way before his SECOND Coming—our time now—although the four gospel books in the New Testament speak of John the Baptist as being in the power and spirit of Elijah, preparing the way before Jesus’ FIRST coming. But God uses the DUALITY principle throughout the Bible. John the Baptist was the type, or forerunner, of the one preparing the way before Christ’s SECOND coming. As John was a voice crying out in the PHYSICAL wilderness of the Jordan River, preparing the way for the HUMAN Jesus to come to his MATERIAL temple in Jerusalem, to his PHYSICAL human people Judah, with the gospel message about the FUTURE Kingdom of God, SO Malachi 3:1-5 and 4:5-6 foretell one in the power and spirit of Elijah to come in OUR TIME, NOW—a voice crying out in the SPIRITUAL wilderness of modern religious confusion, preparing the way for the DIVINE Christ to come to his SPIRITUAL TEMPLE (his Church [Ephesians 2:21]) to ESTABLISH the KINGDOM OF GOD as a ONE-WORLD GOVERNMENT ushering in the happy, peaceful WORLD TOMORROW!”

PLAIN TRUTH, Letter from Mr. Armstrong, June 20, 1982

In the same “Elijah Question” sermon referenced in Chapter One, the speaker quoted a letter from which the next quote is taken. I mention this because it reveals a carefully contrived deceit. This man actually used the following letter as “proof,” supposedly in Mr. Armstrong’s own words, that Mr. Armstrong did not believe that he was the Elijah. He carefully excerpted and juxtaposed the portions that he needed as proof, and omitted most of what you will read. I will say this for the man: To cite a letter proving Mr. Armstrong believed he was the Elijah as disproof, is bold—and truly bald deceit on an outrageous level! Those in this man’s organization should take time to research this to see who speaks the truth. Then frame it with other statements from Mr. Armstrong, before and after that time.

Now for this next quote:

“What about the prophet Elijah? The original Scriptures, prior to Christ’s first coming, close with these words: ‘Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come [second coming] and smite the earth with a curse [total destruction]’ (Mal. 4:5-6).

“Was John the Baptist the Elijah that was to come? When asked that question he said, ‘No.’ Jesus explained that John had come ‘in the power and spirit of Elijah’—a different man, but carrying out the mission preparing for Jesus’ first coming. This is also explained in Malachi 3:1-5, speaking of him as a human messenger preparing the way for Christ’s coming as the ‘messenger of the covenant’—the NEW covenant. But this (verses 2-5) is speaking of preparing the way before Christ’s SECOND coming!

“Now notice what Jesus said: ‘Elias [Elijah] truly shall first come, and restore all things’ (Matt. 17:11). Notice at that time, John the Baptist already had come, completed his mission preparing the way before Jesus’ first appearing—yet Jesus said, ‘Elijah truly SHALL first come.’ Elijah was yet to come, IN THE FAR FUTURE, although John’s mission was already completed and he was in prison. Then Jesus continued: ‘But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not [did not recognize that he was Elijah], but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.’

“John had come in the power and spirit of Elijah, but they did not recognize who he was.

“Now why, then was Elijah YET, in the future, to come—just before the ‘day of the Lord?’ Verse 11, Jesus said to ‘restore all things.’ John the Baptist DID NOT do that! Even Jesus did not come the first time to ‘restore all things.’ He came over 1,900 years ago to announce the KINGDOM OF GOD, which will restore all things. He came to set up his CHURCH—but not then to set up the KINGDOM. The Church was merely the embryo that shall BECOME the Kingdom of God WHEN RESURRECTED—when changed to immortal SPIRIT—at Christ’s second coming.

“Now notice where Jesus is NOW! He (God) ‘shall send Jesus Christ…’ back to earth, ‘whom the heaven must receive UNTIL the times of restitution [restoration] of all things…’ (Acts 3:20-21).

“Jesus shall come, SOON NOW, to RESTORE ALL THINGS! He did NOT restore all things when he first came. John the Baptist did not ‘restore all things.’ But the one who was to ‘restore all things’ just before the ‘day of the Lord’ and preparing the way for Christ’s second coming, was YET to come, in the future, as Jesus said.

“Now what are the ‘all things’ to be RESTORED? ‘Restitution’ means restore to a former state or condition. It DOES NOT and CAN NOT mean restoring things to a condition as they were in the days of Adam and Eve. It was Adam who was given the opportunity to ‘restore all things’ as they were before Lucifer and the angels SINNED—before Lucifer became Satan and his angels became demons. Before that, THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD ruled the earth. Lucifer sat on the throne of the earth, administering the GOVERNMENT OF GOD by the LAW OF GOD! Sin is the transgression of the spiritual Law. It is the GOVERNMENT OF GOD that needs to be restored. Adam failed.

“Jesus QUALIFIED to restore God’s government—to set up the KINGDOM OF GOD, ruling over the earth, administering the GOVERNMENT OF GOD. Jesus’ Gospel Message was the GOOD NEWS that he would (at his second coming) RESTORE the government of God through the KINGDOM OF GOD. That was the true GOSPEL! That Gospel was suppressed within 22 years (Gal. 1:6-7), and was not proclaimed to the world until THIS CHURCH began proclaiming it—within the United States beginning 1934, and going worldwide beginning 1953—precisely a century of time cycles after it had been suppressed!

“Have WE, through this Work, RESTORED anything? Indeed we have! We have RESTORED the TRUE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST—through us JESUS CHRIST has already begun RESTORING the KNOWLEDGE of what had been taken away—the GOVERNMENT OF GOD. Through us the living Christ has been preparing for his SECOND COMING for the PURPOSE of RESTORING ALL THINGS!

“NONE OTHER has RESTORED the knowledge of the fact GOD’S GOVERNMENT was established on earth, and then DESTROYED and taken away by the Cherub Lucifer (Satan) and his demons.

“Jesus did NOT restore God’s government at his first coming. Instead, he proclaimed the GOOD NEWS (Gospel) of it. He was crucified for the SINS of the world, he overcame Satan, he qualified to establish and rule God’s Kingdom, THEN HE ASCENDED TO HEAVEN.”

Co-worker letter, Aug. 24, 1982

“Jesus said the Elijah shall yet come and restore all things. [The original] Elijah did not restore what was taken away…The government of God was taken away. It was to be restored…God raised me up to restore it. God raised me up to restore the government of God. But it is only restored so far in the Church. I have no authority from God, no ability, to restore the government of God any further than just over you brethren in the Church. But that has been done. That has been done, brethren. You go back and read Malachi 3:1-5 and Malachi 4. [And] where Jesus said, ‘Elijah truly shall come’—even after John the Baptist was put in prison, he was yet to come. He [the Elijah] was to restore. John the Baptist didn’t restore. You’d better realize what this Church is and what you are behind when you say you are behind me 100 percent.”

Sermon, Oct. 2, 1982

This latter statement is powerful. Mr. Armstrong knew that God’s government had been restored to the Church. Yet, not one splinter actually practices it, and this is largely because so many never fully understood it. Perhaps three use a similar form of government, but they have ignored much of what else was restored.

Of the four big splinters, one is led by a blaspheming false prophet taking numerous of Christ’s titles. A second group is led by a man who rejects Mr. Armstrong as the Elijah as well as numerous other doctrines that he taught. A third group is led by one who may believe that Mr. Armstrong was the Elijah but who has rejected many other doctrines. Also, a fourth group does not even believe God’s government was restored through one man. It practices democracy—government by elected committee—and has more people and ministers than the other three groups combined. Since 80 percent of the old WCG left the truth, and these four large groups have departed in so many ways from what was restored, I often wonder, “Didn’t anyone ever believe Mr. Armstrong? Did it merely take his death for virtually everyone to forget most or much of what he taught?”

The Restored Church of God is the only organization that still believes (1) God’s government was restored to the Church, (2) practices it, (3) preaches both aspects of the true Work of God, and (4) holds to all of what God restored through Mr. Armstrong.

I have written a supremely important book that takes the reader inside the government of God as it led the Church under Mr. Armstrong. Titled The Government of God, it is a companion to “Anoint Your Eyes” – Christ’s Warning to His People. Mr. Armstrong explained many times that God raised him up to restore God’s government to His Church. You must take the time to comprehend what this meant to God’s Church of the Philadelphian era—and means to you today! You will find it to be most compelling reading, and a vital complement to the Elijah understanding.

1983

“In the Bible God says NUCLEAR WAR IS COMING—on our present generation. He sends me to proclaim to the world Christ’s true Gospel of the Kingdom—a VOICE CRYING OUT IN THE SPIRITUAL WILDERNESS OF RELIGIOUS CONFUSION! The GREAT TRIBULATION—nuclear war—will come! But for the elect’s sake (GOD’S CHURCH), God will cut the nuclear war short BEFORE all mankind is blotted out of existence! Millions and billions will be destroyed—AND SOON! But God will protect us in his Church!”

Co-worker letter, Dec. 18, 1983

“…Matt. 17…The disciples asked Jesus, Well how did they [the scribes] say then that Elijah is going to come? Now John the Baptist had already come. And Jesus said, Elijah truly shall come and restore all things. But, he said, I say unto you Elijah is come already, and they did with him what they pleased, and they beheaded him and killed him. And John the Baptist was already killed when he said that, but he said Elijah shall come. What has been restored? The gospel of the kingdom of God has been restored. The government of God has been restored in this Church! And something has been restored brethren! And Christ is coming to restore everything and world government, not just the Church, but the whole world! And we are to reign and rule with him.” [Author’s note: Could this quote be more ironclad?]

Sermon, F.O.T., Sep. 21, 1983

1984

The next year, he grew stronger:

“People are being deceived. People are being misled, and it’s time for a voice to cry out. It’s time for a voice to awaken the people to this deception, and to come out of this religious Babylon, just as John the Baptist prepared the way for the first coming of Christ. A voice crying in the wilderness, the physical wilderness of the Jordan River proclaiming the way for a physical Jesus to be born, placed in a manger and coming to his physical people, Judah, his own who received him not. So a voice is to cry out today preparing a way in the wilderness of modern, spiritual, and religious Babylon to come out of this Babylon and preparing the way for the second coming of Christ when He’s coming in power and glory as the Lord of lords and the King of kings to rule and to sit on that throne that Satan’s been sitting on for six thousand years…And I tell you the Day of the Lord is coming!

“…Malachi 4 and beginning with verse 5, ‘Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and the dreadful Day of the Lord.’ It’s talking about the Day of the Lord and before that time someone will come. Elijah the prophet lived a long time ago. He is gone and dead. But someone will come in the power and the spirit of Elijah. John the Baptist came in the power and spirit of Elijah but he was not Elijah, preparing the way for Jesus Christ at His first coming. He was a voice crying out in the physical wilderness of the Jordan River, and preparing the way for the physical Jesus born of the human virgin, Mary…coming to His physical people, Judah, and the physical temple at Jerusalem at that time built of stone and wood and precious stones. Now a voice is to cry out before the second coming of Christ coming in power and glory, as the King of kings and the Lord of lords to rule the Earth and to replace Satan…!

“…And some voice has got to come in the spiritual wilderness of Modern Babylon or confusion and call the people out of this Babylon as you read in the eighteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation, ‘come out of her My people,’ and prepare the way for the spiritual Christ to come in power and glory as the King of kings and the Lord of lords and to come to His spiritual Temple, the Church that will rise and meet Him in the air, changed from mortal to immortal...

“I tell you my people we are coming to that time. And it…is time for a voice to cry out and to tell the people that we are coming to that time, and as they come out of this Babylon of religious confusion of our day and believe the Word of God. Because there are many that are preaching something altogether different today. It’s time to believe the Word of God and exactly what it says.

“Now it continues here in the fourth chapter of Malachi, ‘And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers lest I come and smite the earth…’ it says ‘with a curse’ here but the original Hebrew word there was a word that means ‘utter destruction.’ In other words the time when no flesh would be saved alive unless God comes to intervene and cut those days short. We’re coming to that time now. We are very close to that time. [Author’s note: When God would have had to destroy the earth.] Now you need to understand these things...”

Broadcast, Aug. 4, 1984

1985

“There was an Elijah to come and to restore things in the Church. THAT HAS HAPPENED and what has been restored is the government of God—and many of the truths, at least 17 or 18 principal, vital doctrines of truth, have been added to about the three that had survived in the Sardis era of the Church.”

Final Sermon, Trumpets, Sep. 16, 1985

The following very extensive statement, broken by Mr. Armstrong’s subheads, comes from MYSTERY OF THE AGES—Mr. Armstrong’s final and most important book. It is clear, thorough and profound:

“The real causes of all this world’s religious confusion—and all its evils—are revealed in seven basic mysteries that decry this babylon of religious confusion and the resulting world chaos!

“But now God’s time has come! He now sends a voice to cry out with amplified world-covering power to reveal the way out of this senseless madness, into the world of peace and righteousness that soon shall grip the earth!

“In the book of Isaiah is a ‘now’ prophecy: ‘The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord…lift up thy 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: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him’ (Isa. 40:3, 9-10).” [Author’s note: The Church had long understood this passage, and it has always fascinated me that the man God selected as the voice to fulfill it was named Arm-strong (strong arm). Notice the “strong arm” reference to God returning is preceded by “and His Work before Him.” The Church has also long been aware that this was the Work once led by Mr. Armstrong. Incidentally, because of this scripture, Mr. Armstrong had originally considered A Voice Cries Out as the title for MYSTERY OF THE AGES.]

“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 ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple…’ (Mal. 3:1).

The Elijah to Come

“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 1,900 years ago. But, as a prototype, or forerunner, these prophecies foretell one to prepare the way before Christ’s Second Coming as the 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 wilderness 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 imminency 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 1,900 years ago, to announce the future kingdom of God. He’s coming this time to establish that kingdom. That end-time 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!”

Hardcover, pp. 9-10

“It is revealed in Malachi 3:1-5 and 4:5-6 that God would raise up one in the power and spirit of Elijah, shortly prior to the Second Coming of Christ. In Matthew 17:11 Jesus said, even after John the Baptist had completed his mission, that this prophesied Elijah ‘truly shall first come, and restore all things.’ Although it is plainly revealed that John the Baptist had come in the power and spirit of Elijah, he did not restore anything. The human leader to be raised up somewhat shortly prior to Christ’s Second Coming was to prepare the way—prepare the Church—for Christ’s coming, and restore the truth that had been lost through the preceding eras of the Church. Also a door was to be opened for this leader and/or the Philadelphia era of the Church to fulfill Matthew 24:14: ‘And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’

“These prophecies have now definitely been fulfilled.”

pp. 290-291

Elijah to Come in Our Day

“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 began 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 end-time message were not proclaimed, the glorified Christ would come and smite the world with total destruction. (The word curse in this verse is translated from the Hebrew, which some translators render total destruction.)”

pp. 348-349

Again, some who were once close to Mr. Armstrong now claim that he did not really believe he was the Elijah. Having read these statements, ask if honest people could possibly assert this—or have they just forgotten?

“Most Important Book”

In this regard, again, Mr. Armstrong stated publicly that he firmly believed MYSTERY OF THE AGES was the most important book since the Bible. (Who could forget his statements?) It was there that he made his most thorough and forceful statement about his fulfillment as the Elijah. Could he have been so wrong in a book that he felt was so important? Is it any wonder the apostates so quickly sought to destroy this book when they decided to throw all truth from the Church? Although thousands in the splinters no longer see its value, the devil did—and still does. His agents still belittle it.

In a tone dripping with sarcasm, the splinter leader who gave “The Elijah Question” sermon that denigrated those who respect and support Mr. Armstrong’s role, shouted, “He was like a god—the Elijah to come. His writings are to be enshrined—MYSTERY OF THE AGES is kind of like a New Testament, inspired by God, so you don’t mess with it.”

So far, we have seen more than ample proof that Mr. Armstrong believed God had specially trained him, from at least his teen years, to fulfill Malachi 4:5-6 and Matthew 17:11. In reviewing his last statements concerning his fulfillment, we have established his firm conviction and final position—and why he felt so strongly about this understanding of his calling!

Did he stand alone in his conviction? Did the Church support him? Is there evidence that it did? If so, what is it and when did the Church begin to acknowledge how God was using Mr. Armstrong? The next chapter answers these and other questions. It will also explain that headquarters believed, understood and still taught Mr. Armstrong’s role as the Elijah for at least seven months after his death!

CHAPTER FOUR –

WHAT THE CHURCH TAUGHT

Let’s ask in straightforward fashion: Did others in the Church, including within the Church’s publications, teach in unison with Mr. Armstrong regarding his fulfillment of the Elijah role? Let’s begin at the end and then go back to the beginning and move forward.

What then did the Church teach?

Seven and a half months after Mr. Armstrong died, the WCG editorial department produced a full-page article titled “God restored these 18 truths: How thankful are you for them?” Joseph W. Tkach requested its production, and his lead-in begins it.

Read these next statements recognizing that even the apostates once understood Mr. Armstrong’s Elijah role and teaching—and, at least initially, seemed to believe it. Of course, they later rejected it because their doctrinal agenda prevented believing Mr. Armstrong restored “all things”—or anything—to God’s Church. But these men previously accepted this truth because the whole Church did up to and through Mr. Armstrong’s death. Will you allow the blindness of false leaders to blind you?

Notice:

“The Editorial Services staff has compiled here, for the first time in any of the Church’s publications, 18 essential, basic truths that God restored to His Church through our late Pastor General Herbert W. Armstrong.

“As you prepare spiritually for the coming Feast of Tabernacles, please spend time with this important article, reviewing each of the 18 truths and thanking God for restoring them to His Church.”

Pastor General, Joseph W. Tkach

The article also asked: “How much do you value God’s truth? Do you daily give God thanks for your calling and the knowledge of His ways?

“In his last book, MYSTERY OF THE AGES, the late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote: ‘This Church, until after the year of 1933, had lost many…vital truths. At least 18 basic and essential truths have been restored to the true Church since that year’ (page 251, hardcover edition).

“Mr. Armstrong listed some of these truths in a sermon Dec. 17, 1983. He listed a few others and enumerated them when he spoke to the Ministerial Refreshing Program May 2, 1984.

“It’s good to review this list to better appreciate how much we have benefited from what God restored through Mr. Armstrong.

“These points are listed basically in the words Mr. Armstrong used when he spoke to the Ministerial Refreshing Program.

“Jesus said, ‘Elias [Elijah] truly shall first come, and restore all things’ (Matthew 17:11). Jesus was referring to something that was to happen in the future. John the Baptist had already come, and Jesus didn’t even begin His ministry until John had been put in prison. John didn’t restore anything. Jesus was referring to another man, not John.

“Shortly before the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, someone would come in the spirit and power of Elijah, in the spirit and power of John the Baptist, and would restore all things to the Church. Now, what has been restored to the Church?

“Today, the government of God has been restored to His Church. That’s the kind of government you find in Ephesians 4 and I Corinthians 12.

“Where would we be without these truths? Without them—without [Mr.] Armstrong’s legacy of these 18 restored truths—there isn’t much left.”

A caption under a picture featuring MYSTERY OF THE AGES, THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN IN PROPHECY, The Incredible Human Potential, THE WONDERFUL WORLD TOMORROW and Why were you BORN?, also stated: “A LIFE’S WORK—Though Mr. Armstrong didn’t know it at the time God began to call him, God had a lifelong job for him: to restore to His Church truth that the centuries had dimmed. In the last year of his life, Mr. Armstrong finished MYSTERY OF THE AGES, his final collection of the essential truths.”

WN, Aug. 25, 1986

There is no doubt what every member of the Worldwide Church of God should have understood up to, and through, a period at least 7½ months after Mr. Armstrong’s death. The apostates’ record removes all excuse for those asserting “I never knew.” If not, they should have.

My 1982 “Elijah” Sermon

On April 24, 1982, I first preached about Mr. Armstrong fulfilling the Elijah role. The Church had already known this since 1971, or earlier. The title was long, but it drove home the point: “The Prophetic Significance of Mr. Armstrong’s Office.” It is posted on our website—and it proves that neither I nor anyone else “dreamed up,” after Mr. Armstrong’s death, what had been our long-held understanding. All who take the time to listen to this sermon will recognize there was once no doubt or confusion about who we believed had fulfilled the Elijah prophecy.

If you hear it, ask if I would have been permitted to give this sermon on my own authority. Certainly not! As mentioned, Mr. Armstrong was always uncomfortable with ministers artificially elevating him. We will later see he completely understood that a sermon like mine did not do that. Over 600 people heard it when I delivered it. (Also, I know of one senior evangelist who gave a similar sermon in 1979.)

I quote it so that you will have no doubt of its strength or clarity—or of my long-held position. For simplicity, an ellipse separates several short sections that are placed together:

“That office as we come to see becomes the focal point of all the prophecies