Below is a very important letter in which Mr. Armstrong sent to all members of the Church of God. We have posted it here in it's entirety for your reading and instruction. Please read it carefully as Mr. Armstrong asked all the brethren to do at that time. It contains teaching on Church government in great detail.

If all the ministers in God's Church were following these instructions given through the apostle, there would be no reason for the division or scattering of the members. Since they have not done this, we have the fulfillment of Daniel 12:7 in the Church today.

The Church needs to repent of drifting away from this vital knowledge and turn back to these instructions. The ministry needs to take the lead in doing this. Such an action if done by the mahority of the ministry, could unify the body of Christ once again, at least those who truly believe that God sent Mr. Armstrong to restore His truth about government in His Church.

WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
WORLD HEADQUARTERS
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91123

HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG

PRESIDENT and PASTOR

May 2, 1974

Dear Brethren of God's Church:

It is vital that you read carefully every word of this letter.

Do you know where we are right now, IN PROPHECY?

We are in the very time of Daniel's prophecy: At "the time of the end, many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand" (Daniel 12:9-10).

God's people are in the time of final trying and testing -- like taking final exams to determine whether we graduate.

Today some in the Church of God do not UNDERSTAND just what the Church of God really IS! Some have become confused as to whether there is ORGANIZATION or government in it -- and I mean in GOD'S OWN CHURCH! And God HAS ONLY ONE CHURCH! (I Cor. 12:12, 13.) But we of "the wise" shall understand! That understanding shall be made PLAIN in this letter.

Some wonder whether they can leave God's Church, and still be true and real Christians -- whether they could then enter GOD'S KINGDOM with His GIFT of ETERNAL LIFE. I will answer that in this letter.