Herbert W. Armstrong

An Apostle of God

CAUSE and EFFECT

In Mystery of the Ages Mr. Armstrong writes about the Philadelphian era of the Church. He states that an open door was given to the leader and/or the Philadelphia era of the Church.

An OPEN DOOR was given to him by Jesus Christ to fulfill the commission of preaching the gospel to the world.

Notice on page 290: “This era of the Church was to produce fruit. To this era--or to its human leader--God had set before it an open door”.

Then on page 291 Mr. Armstrong writes a profound statement: “ These prophecies have now definitely been fulfilled.”

During that time period God used him to do a mighty work unparalleled in our time. The door to preach the gospel to the world was wide open for him.

The Philadelphia Era of God's Church is history . The Church is now in the Laodicean era. Remember an era is a period of time when a certain attitude is dominant in the Church. Anyone who doesn’t believe God’s Church is in the Laodicean era is lacking in spiritual discernment! Blindness is one of the symptoms describing the Church in this era (Rev. 3:17).

We do not find an open door for preaching the gospel to the world in this era (Rev. 3:14-21). We do read of a lukewarm and self-deceptive Church. Jesus Christ says it needs to repent (V. 19).

Why? What happened? How did it come to be in this condition? How did it come to be lukewarm and in what areas? Of what does it need to repent?

The Laodicean Condition

A great apostasy occurred in the Church by the leadership following Mr. Armstrong’s death (II Thes. 2).

The Church has now acquired the Laodicean characteristics. Most ministers and members alike have departed, to some degree, from doctrines they once embraced during the Philadelphia era. This is the major problem to be resolved.

This departure from true doctrines restored or instilled into the Church through an apostle of God, whether they are major or minor, has brought a great distrust for the ministry and confusion in the Church. It has split it apart at the seams. And so the open door to preach the gospel, as was done during the Philadelphia era, has been shut.

God abundantly blessed preaching the gospel to the world through Mr. Armstrong. There was a cause for that blessing. He did not compromise doctrine. He set an excellent example for us. Therein is a lesson for us today. We must attend to the cause if we ever want to have the same positive effect God gave to him. Will we ever learn? Will we ever " GET IT"?

The main focus for the Church at this point in time must be to get back on track doctrinally and spiritually. The ministry needs to teach all the truths God gave to us through His late apostle. Recent Church history has shown this getting “ back on the track” must take priority at this time.

Leaders of splinter Church of God groups say they are teaching the full truth of God. This claim is not true and is proven in our booklet, “ The Work of God in the Laodicean Era”.

Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. He has the key that opens the door to reach the world more extensively with the gospel and warning message once again. He, not any man, is the one who determines if the door is to be open or shut (Rev. 3:7). He determines if the Church is to receive His blessing.

Christ could, and probably would, open wide the door to preach the gospel to the world with great power again IF the greater part of the ministers were to lead the Church in genuine, heartfelt repentance. This must be the first step, beginning with the ministry.

The ministry needs to return to teaching the full truth and adhere to all the doctrines taught in the previous era when Mr. Armstrong put the Church back on track. The leadership and members would once again be working together in harmony and unity.

Church Becomes Derailed!

Back in January 1991, when the Church’s “ Born-Again” doctrinewas changed, a significant decline in growth and income was noticed. Think about this: changing the “Born-Again” doctrine actually began a perverting of the true gospel (Galatians 1:6-7).

During that same time period preaching the gospel to the world was cut back significantly. The Church was losing its impact and influence. This downturn continued because God was rapidly withdrawing His blessings.

From that point forward in 1991, as doctrinal changes were accelerated by Church leadership, there was paralleled declines in income, in new membership and in preaching the gospel. Cause and Effect!

Mr. Armstrong forewarned us: “I want you, brethren, to think about and understand what happened to God's Church in the 1970’s " lest history repeat itself!" I want you to see the "fruits" of rebelling against God's way and God's government. After all, the basic issue all along was that of God's government in the Church” (WWN June 24, 1985).

Little did Mr. Armstrong realize the very leader he appointed would take the Church off the track again. Ministers knew doctrines were being changed, but no steps nor any concerted efforts were made to protect the saints from this onslaught of heresies. That makes them just as guilty as he was.

They didn’t truly care enough to protect the sheep. This is betrayal of the worst sort. They are without excuse! A paycheck meant more than God’s truth! Jesus condemns hirelings! (John 10:11-16).

A few ministers did expose this apostasy only to be found off track themselves in some areas of doctrine or teaching! What a MESS!

JESUS CHRIST IS NOT PLEASED WITH THE MINISTRY OR WITH HIS CHURCH IN THIS ERA ! You and I are the Church, if we have God’s Holy Spirit. That’s you and me, brethren, not just the other person! We need to evaluate ourselves in these things.

Cause and Effect

This recent history serves as a reminder. God will not bless efforts to preach the gospel apart from keeping His truth and doctrines pure in their entirety. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He does not compromise.

Mr. Armstrong set a proper example for us. He did not compromise and neither must we if we want God’s blessing to do “ The Work”.

We are to HOLD FAST to these things ( Rev 3:11 ). The Church, in general, is not holding fast. We definitely are in the Laodicean era.

The gospel is not being preached to the world today with any significant power. The power of the holy people has been scattered (Daniel 12:9). Doctrinal Compromise is the major causefor division in the Church, hence a lack of power from God. God won’t walk with us if we’re not agreed with Him.

The closer the ministry and members of the Church are to God the more He will give His Spirit to them. “ And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him” (Acts 5:32 ).

Straying from doctrines, or changing them, separates us from God, the source of all power (Luke 11:13 ), which is the real power to do any work (Zechariah 4:6). It simply is called Cause and Effect!

Obedience to God is the cause and blessings are the effect, they go hand in hand. This is a vital principle God teaches us from Genesis to Revelation. This is a principle Mr. Armstrong taught to us. Did we listen? Did we “ GET IT”?

We need to heed more closely and hold fast to these things. If we do, God’s blessings will come to the Church.

Be sure to request “ The Work of God in the Laodicean Era”. It explains in plain simple terms why, and how to solve, division in God’s Church today.