Chapter Thirteen – The “Little Book”—and “Prophesy Again”

Learning Israel's Identity, and Other Truths

You have learned that God’s final Work in this age involves a most SPECIAL COMMISSION. While outlined in one chapter of the book of Ezekiel, it is supported by many other passages in that book and elsewhere. But it is further supported by an unusual and seemingly mysterious prophecy that has also fallen into disuse and from memory.

Let’s learn more about what God expects from those carrying out the last Work remaining for His Church!

What will follow is centered around a very extensive series of statements from Mr. Armstrong, written to brethren and co-workers on November 19, 1976. This was perhaps one of the longest letters he ever wrote. Mr. Armstrong’s purpose was to carefully explain a new truth that had been revealed to him. It was no small matter!

This chapter is the next-to-last time in the book that you will hear from Mr. Armstrong. More than any other subject, the warning to Israel, coupled with taking the gospel to the world, defined Mr. Armstrong’s life. What you have read in the previous chapter, and what you will yet read in this chapter, literally impelled—in factDROVE!—his existence for 52 years. This will be evident. As you read, savor the clarity, power, passion and driving commitment with which Mr. Armstrong saw and carried out his commission.

Recognize that much more on this subject could have been included from other statements by Mr. Armstrong. While important, it is not practical to include even the entire letter we will review, so excerpts, sometimes extensive, will be presented. These are followed by my comments.

The Learning Process

The letter begins with Mr. Armstrong carefully teaching the brethren and co-workers about how the Church learned the truth, beginning with the correct gospel. This background sets up what he references in the letter’s opening line, which begins, “It seems very possible God has once again revealed something NEW to us, and important.”

You are about to learn just how important was this new understanding (all emphasis is his throughout):

“Actually the TRUTH—which has become the accepted and official teaching of this Church—started under most unusual conditions. This is GOD’S Church, and it, in this present era, rose up in this world whose God is (though the world is deceived into ignorance of it) Satan the Devil. It is like a sprout of GOOD wheat sprouting up among thorns, thistles, and briers.

“We are not ‘just another Protestant church.’ It is true that Baptists, fundamental Methodists, and other Protestant denominations, do teach some things as we do—but they have the branches and twigs of the tree—NOT ONE OF THEM has the real TRUNK of the tree—with its MAIN BRANCHES.

“In other words, not one of them knows what spiritual salvation really is, what the KINGDOM OF GOD (Christ’s whole Gospel) really is, WHY God put humanity here on earth: WHAT is our real ultimate human POTENTIAL, or HOW we shall reach it. They know not God’s PURPOSE, nor His MASTER PLAN for working it out. They do not know why we are here, where we are going, or THE WAY. Those are the BIG, MAIN branches of the tree of knowledge. They are the MISSING DIMENSION in knowledge.”

The reader should at least note—recall this from early in the book—that the final paragraph here opened with Mr. Armstrong plainly stating the “KINGDOM OF GOD” (in all caps) was “Christ’s whole Gospel.” Again, this is big proof that Mr. Armstrong never saw Jesus Himself as part of the gospel. Now continue:

“Jesus came over 1,900 years ago with a vital MESSAGE from God—but after 3 1/2 years of preaching it to hundreds of thousands, only 120 still BELIEVED WHAT HE SAID (Acts 1:15). I do BELIEVE what He says!”

This last quote is a stunning reality for those who will receive it. In fact, it is a perfect reflection of our time. Look back. Mr. Armstrong preached the kingdom of God and all of God’s other truths for 52 years, not three and a half. We could ask, paralleling Jesus’ ministry—but 15 times longer—how many in the end truly believed the things Mr. Armstrong taught? In fact, how many will return to believe what he reveals in the remainder of this letter?

Mr. Armstrong’s Calling Recounted

The letter continues with a long review of Mr. Armstrong’s calling and conversion. In the middle of the story, he further establishes how the Church received every doctrine it came to accept and preach. (Tragically, almost the entire Church has forgotten that truth enters the Church only through apostles. This towering understanding is explained in THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD and other books to the splinters.)

This next segment ends reiterating the true gospel, and Mr. Armstrong’s commission to preach it:

“But God brought me through a process that ERASED former misknowledge—and, as it were, gave me a clear start from ‘scratch.’

“I wonder if you realize that every TRUTH of GOD, accepted as true DOCTRINE and BELIEF in the WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD came from Christ through me, or was finally approved and made official through me.

“Forty-three years ago, God committed to me His GREAT COMMISSION—to carry Christ’s Gospel MESSAGE of the imminent coming KINGDOM OF GOD into all the world.

“Again I say that is a STAGGERING RESPONSIBILITY!”

Mr. Armstrong next jumps back into the storyline of his first contact with the “humble Church of God brethren” of Oregon. The following brief segment shows how even God’s people can get terribly mixed up and confused about what is the true gospel. The reader would do well to recognize and accept the sobering danger of anentire Church era—Sardis!—falling into the deception of a FALSE GOSPEL—one other than the kingdom of God! Remember also in this regard that Christ described the Sardis era as “dead”:

“Those brethren I came among were humble, sincere, strict Sabbath keepers, but as a whole, spiritually DEAD—especially their ministers. Still there were some among them who had that first love of the TRUTH. But they did NOT proclaim Christ’s Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD, nor even understand what it was. They were bent on preaching a ‘third angel’s message.’”

One Man at a Time

The next quote picks up with Mr. Armstrong reiterating how God always works through ONE MAN AT A TIME, with many others around him in positions of support. He also references how Christ chooses and trains those specially used of Him:

“The living Christ trained and chose me to carry out that staggering and tremendous GREAT COMMISSION.

“Brethren, NO MAN, of himself, could have decided to do this, and, on his own human ability and power alone, have RAISED up this WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD, have developed the facilities and machinery for BROADCASTING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT—by radio, printing press, television, personal preaching to THE WORLD. This WORK OF GOD has grown into a great, powerful WORLDWIDE and WORLD-KNOWN work.

“There is but one answer. No one can believe that I alone had the ability and the power to accomplish something that never before in the history of man has been done! GOD DID IT, though He used me as a human servant. NO MAN BY HUMAN ABILITY COULD HAVE ACHIEVED IT.

“Yet God always has worked through ONE MAN, surrounded by helpers.”

Learning Israel's Identity, and Other Truths

Back to The Work of God

Chapter Thirteen – The “Little Book”—and “Prophesy Again”

Contents

Extraordinary Letter—and the “Little Book”!

The Learning Process

Mr. Armstrong’s Calling Recounted

One Man at a Time