Chapter Index

1 - Work Of God

2 -Is That Door Still Open Today?

3 - A Double Standard

4 - Problems Of A Divided Church

5 - Some Will Be Called Now

6 - A Solution To The Problem

7 - A Faithful Minister’s Duties

8 - A Need For The Message

9 - Test The Minister

10 - Heresies And Errors

11 - Other Areas Of Caution

12 - The Conclusion Of The Matter

13 - The Bridegroom Cometh!

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Chapter Six

A Solution To The Problem

Since with God all things are possible, there are some factors which we must not overlook in this matter of preaching the gospel to the world. As explained in chapter five, God will call some into His Church during this Laodicean era. They will replace those who will allow the cares of this life to choke them, becoming unfruitful.

“Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper” (Luke 14:16-24).

Those He calls out of the world in this Laodicean era will be given the same chance to succeed as others who had been called during the Philadelphia era. If certain things were to happen for them, they also will be attending the wedding supper. When God calls someone, He gives them every chance to succeed (I Corinthians 10:13).

If a person were to come into the Church of God through a minister who is keeping all the truth and the doctrines pure as they were given, that person certainly would have an opportunity to overcome and succeed as a Christian. He, or she, would be taught doctrines as they had been given through an apostle who wouldn’t compromise.

This same principle also applies for someone who might come into a group that may be off track on some doctrines. If, after discovering their errors, one leaves that particular group and comes into the group that Christ is using to preserve and teach His truth.

Such a person would be given the full truth of God and an environment where God’s Love is being manifested. A new convert under those conditions could grow rapidly in the grace and knowledge of God. His or her chances to develop His Holy, Righteous character would be vastly improved.

That is why it is extremely important that God’s ministers stay on the track spiritually and doctrinally. They are to faithfully teach all His truth as was given to them.

God would bless the efforts of any minister who remains faithful to His truth and doctrines. As a result, new converts would receive the blessings which the full truth provides. The Church would also be made stronger. This is the kind of growth God wants in His Church.

This kind of growth was experienced when the Church was on track under Mr. Armstrong’s leadership. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. If this principle applied during the Philadelphian era, it still applies today.

“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

God blessed the Church with tremendous growth under Mr. Armstrong’s leadership. He sought to keep the Church on track doctrinally and spiritually. He would not compromise. He did not look for ways in which he could liberalize away any of them. He continually warned us about not following the liberal approach to doctrine. Here is some excerpts from Mr. Armstrong’s article:

WHAT IS A LIBERAL?
By Herbert W. Armstrong

“...GOD SAYS to His Church, through the apostle Paul,

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all speak the same thing, and that there he no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

The Liberal Attitude

...That is the way of the LIBERAL - who wants to water down the truth of God and go as far into this world which means as far in Satan's way - as possible and still get into God's Kingdom.

...The liberal among us today wants to GET! He wants to get into God's Kingdom, but he wants to go along with this world's ways as far as God will allow and still let him make it into the Kingdom!

...The liberal has deceived himself! I do not believe the liberal realizes his own attitude. He really wants to get into the Kingdom of God - he wants to RECEIVE the eternal rewards of happiness, joy and eternal life in security. But he still would like to hang on to some of this world's ways.

...like Balaam - like Satan - the liberal wants to see how close he can come to the precipice without falling and losing his eternal life. Like Mother Eve, they use HUMAN REASON to justify straying partly away from the SPIRIT of God's Law.

...In his heart, the liberal would like to "go along" at least part way with this world.”

Mr. Armstrong certainly was no liberal. He certainly did not like the liberal approach to doctrine. Because his approach was proper, God could use him in a mighty way. When he preached the gospel to the world, God blessed him very much.

Fruits of Liberalism

Some leaders of the Church splinter groups that have formed since Mr. Armstrong’s death are trying to duplicate what Jesus Christ accomplished through him. They are attempting to preach the gospel to the world as he did, but they just cannot seem to do it. Why not?

The answer is obvious. They simply are not truly following all the doctrines and truth faithfully as taught through the apostle Christ used to reach the world and it’s leaders with the gospel.

Some will say adamantly they are holding fast to these things. But when checked closely, we find they have altered some of those things as was taught. They have changed doctrines by either adding to or omitting some things. This is manifested by what they now teach and keep as doctrines. Some of these changes are quite subtle.

The conduct of some ministers has also given room for concern. They have treated members harshly or with a wrong attitude. In some cases they have made poor judgments alienating members.

These things have caused doubt in and amongst the membership, therefore, Christ cannot use them as He did Mr. Armstrong. Jesus Christ wants leaders who will remain faithful to His teachings and provide loving leadership to His people.

Jesus Christ placed Mr. Armstrong into the office of an apostle for our benefit. We must recognize that He is still teaching us through him. His teachings via articles, letters, booklets, taped sermons, and Bible studies, along with some videotapes are prevalent today. Do you still listen to the apostle? There is no excuse not to.

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;” (Acts 2:42-44).

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (II Thessalonians 2:15).

“I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:” (II Peter 3:1-2).

These are instructions that apply to God’s people at all times. They apply especially to this Laodicean era of the Church.

Mr. Armstrong was given much revelation from God. He in turn gave that revelation to us. His final work, the book “Mystery of the Ages” explains in detail the many mysteries in the Bible. He had a way to make them simple and easy for us to understand. That book helps explain the Bible as no other book written about it.

In the book of Ephesians we can get a glimpse of another apostle that was given revelation of the mystery of the ages:

“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:”

(Ephesians 3:2-5,7-11).

Yes, Mr. Armstrong gave to us the teachings of God without compromise, just as the apostle Paul did in his day. The book, Mystery of the Ages, puts it all together for us. It makes reading the Bible very interesting and understandable. All the work of an apostle in this end-time is summarized in one book just for us. It explains God’s plan and purpose for man and our relationship with Him. For that we should be very thankful! We are without excuse.

Brethren, please go back and read again his book. It can truly refresh and help you to have a deeper understanding of God’s purpose for creation, for the Church and for your life. Mr. Armstrong truly was a man of God. He put his whole heart in these things. He truly did the “Work of God”.

He still speaks to us today via his writings, sermons and Bible study tapes. Are you listening and obeying what the apostle of God taught? Do you even care? If the Church as a whole returned to all the doctrines God gave to us through this great leader during the Philadelphia era of the Church, it could once again become unified.

The responsibility to do this is placed squarely on the shoulders of the ministry.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-15).

The solution to the problems the Church as a whole is experiencing, and for those new converts coming into God’s Church during this Laodicean era, is summed up right there in those verses.

Notice the first in chain of command is an apostle! God gave one to us in this end time. He explained God’s plan and purpose to us. He gave us instructions and directions to follow which, if done, will help us qualify as kings and priests in the Kingdom of God.

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people” (Joel 2:12-18).

This is what the Church needs to do right now! May God help us to heed these things!