His Last Years
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Mr. Armstrong essentially had no personal assets at the end of his life. Virtually everything that he had or used belonged to the Church. Both during and after his lifetime, critics have condemned him for extravagance. Such people are incapable of grasping how God made possible the acquisition of huge estates by the Church at a fraction of their market value.
Some of these estates also contained immaculate furnishings. In addition, the Church often received gifts of expensive items from members, co-workers and admirers of what Mr. Armstrong was doing. These often became part of his furnishings, and directly served God’s purpose, because they were of sufficient quality to host the dignitaries and heads of state who came to visit him. (So large and extensive were the assets of the campuses and buildings with which God had blessed the Work over the years that, once all of it fell into the hands of his successors, it literally took them many years to dismantle, sell and dissolve all the Work’s assets. So enormous had been the Work of God under Mr. Armstrong’s ministry.)
Mr. Armstrong had maintained resilience and steadfast determination even in the face of losing his eldest son to death in 1958, then his wife to death in 1967. His remaining son had turned against him, leaving the Church in 1978. Mr. Armstrong had trusted advisors and consultants who ultimately either drifted away or betrayed him in the pursuit of personal agendas. Ironically, through the last years of his life, he was betrayed by the various ones whom he trusted the most. Yet, while the entire ministry generally found it easy to remain loyal to Mr. Armstrong until he died, “true colors” were to appear soon after.
From members of the flight crew to long-time employees of the Church and college, a number of people were especially helpful to Mr. Armstrong at the end of his life when his increasing frailty and loss of eyesight and hearing meant that he needed them most. Certain close aides, such as Aaron Dean, gave Mr. Armstrong much needed assistance during his final years.
It was during this time that Mr. Armstrong continually warned the Church of the importance of seeing the big picture, and when he would repeatedly express in these warnings, “I don’t think that most of you really get it.” Mr. Armstrong sensed that most people were oblivious to the significance of the calling to be a part of the Church and the Work of announcing the soon-coming kingdom of God, as well as to maintaining a serious focus on growing and overcoming in their personal lives. He was able to discern a spirit of lethargy that was dominant in the Church during the last years of his life.
Often expressing that he felt God had revealed more truth to him near the end of his life than at any previous period, he could readily discern that the majority of members were not truly receptive to his words.
The future would prove his discernment correct!
His Last and Greatest Work
Then, at the fall festival of 1985, Mr. Armstrong released his most important work, Mystery of the Ages. This book was an overview of the Bible and God’s master plan of salvation for all humanity. This, his last book, explained to readers who and what is God—the role of angels and evil spirits—the purpose of man—civilization—the descendants of ancient Israel—the Church—and the kingdom of God.
In a September 12, 1985 Co-Worker Letter, four months before he died, Mr. Armstrong wrote this:
“This new book Mystery of the Ages unveils all these mysteries. It puts the many different parts of the ‘jigsaw puzzle’ together. It is, in fact, a synopsis of the entire Bible. It is my prayer that you will read it along with your Bible—that it will make your Bible come alive and understandable. And with God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in you, I feel sure that it will. I am now in my 94th year and I feel that this book is the most valuable gift I could possibly give to you. This book is a partial expression of my thanks and gratitude to you for being a co-laborer with me and with Jesus Christ. With all my heart, I do appreciate and thank God for your part with me in the wonderful Work these closing days.”
On January 16, 1986, Herbert W. Armstrong died at the age of ninety-three and a half, “on the job.” The Church was “on track,” and the Work was going full speed. All that the ministry and brethren had to do was stay the course and finish the Work. Here is how he expressed this in his next to last Member/Co-Worker Letter, written just three weeks before his death:
“I thank God that he has organized this present work of his so thoroughly that regardless of the outcome of my present illness, the work will continue right on to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Meanwhile, dear brethren and co-workers, I and the work of God, need, as never before, your continued fervent prayers for the continued progress of this great work. Christ is the Living Head of this work, and He will continue guiding those He has chosen right up to His Second Coming, which grows daily nearer at hand” (Brethren/Co-Worker Letter, December 23, 1985).
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