Overview of the October 2018 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

PCG's 1% has released yet another issue of their recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet (October 2018). Gerald Flurry once boasted of PCG having an income of "around $19.5 million annually as of 2012" and this recruitment magazine is made to try and convince more people to send money to the organization. This recruitment magazine is part of PCG's process for attracting more tithes payers to improve PCG's income.

Let us see what they have to say this time.

The editors for this issue are Gerald Flurry, Stephen Flurry, Joel Hilliker, Brad Macdonald, Richard Palmer, Jeremiah Jacques, Dennis Leap and Phillip Nice.

This issue has a circulation of 276,182 issues. This is an increase from the September issue which had a circulation of 262,346 issues. The August 2018 issue had a circulation of 262,448 issues. The July 2018 issue had a circulation of 264,040 issues. The May-June 2018 issue had a circulation of 262,750 issues. The April 2018 issue had a circulation of 247,749 issues. The March 2018 issue had a circulation of 247,749 issues (which happens to be exactly the same as the April 2018 issue).

Gerald Flurry has an article scare mongering once again that the European Union will one day soon (it is always "soon" for them) be transformed into a mighty military power fated to conquer the United States and Britain and take those peoples as slaves just before Christ's return. This time Flurry scare mongers about Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz gaining the presidency of the European Union for six months and exhibits hosted by the Imperial Treasury in Vienna of historical articles including crown jewels associated with the medieval Holy Roman Empire from July 1 till December 31. That's right. Gerald Flurry is trying to make his readers scared over a museum exhibit in Vienna.

Richard Palmer has an article scare mongering that the world has entered "a new nuclear arms race."

Tyrel Schlote has an article bemoaning Canada's legalization of recreational marijuana.

Andrew Müller the McCarthyite has an article scare mongering that China is somehow waging some sort of drug war upon the United States by sending mind altering substances to the nation.

Richard Palmer also has an article scare mongering that China may soon rule the waves the way the British Empire once did.

The Infographic scare mongering that China is seeking to "control world trade" as though world trade could be controlled by any single nation.

Andrew Müller has an article stirring up fear and bitterness toward the alleged future German boogeyman by mentioning some of the economic links that existed between Weimar Germany and the Soviet Union.

Jeremiah Jacques has an article discussing Operation Entebbe, the 1976 Israeli military operation in which 103 hostages held in Uganda were freed. Jacques' article contains interviews with an Israeli soldier who was there and the brother of the sole Israeli soldier who died in the battle, namely Yonatan Netanyahu. (Jacques' article also refers to him as Jonathan.) Regardless of who PCG's 1% are able to interview for their recruitment magazine PCG's reputation among those the truth about this organization will remain as abysmal as ever.

Also it is quite jarring seeing Jeremiah Jacques mention the fallen Yonatan Netanyahu in the same passage as Herbert Armstrong, a man who committed incest with his own daughter for about ten years.

As the historic Entebbe rescue was taking place, world famous educator Herbert W. Armstrong was in the air, en route from California to Italy. After landing in Rome, he learned of Operation Jonathan and said the Israelis had “showed the rest of the world an example of how to deal with this international menace” of terrorism. ... Mr. Armstrong said two months later that Operation Jonathan should teach all people a “supremely important truth” about compromise. (p. 36.)

The fallen Yonatan Netanyahu deserves better than to be mentioned in proximity to that infamous sexual predator.

Jorg Mardian has an article discussing the problem of the over consumption of sugar among children, a topic which is often discussed outside of PCG.

Callum Wood has an article discussing the severe drought in Australia.

Joel Hilliker has an article encouraging parents to teach children to enjoy getting their hands dirty in activities like weeding.

Joel Hilliker also scare mongers about free speech is under attack this time citing the recent exclusion of the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones from various social media platforms. It seems to escape Hilliker's notice that the first amendment is about restricting the government from censoring opinions, not privately owned companies such as the major social media companies. That is a different issue.

WorldWatch discusses Europol signing an agreement with Israeli police; an alleged bombing attempt in Belgium against the Mujahedin-e Khalq, an organization opposed to the Iranian government which was formerly listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organization from 1997 till 2012; Houthi forces in Yemen attacking to Saudi oil tankers on July 25; hyperinflation in Venezuela; the European Union and Japan signing a free trade agreement; the establishment of a political wing within the Russian army; American airlines changing the way they describe Taiwan due to pressure from China; the deficit under the Republican created budget will have a deficit of over a trillion dollars; and wildfires in the supposedly cursed California. PCG's 1% have for decades shrilly insisted that the State of California is somehow cursed simply because WCG's headquarters happened to be in that state. However if  California was listed as its own nation it would be regarded as one of the most prosperous nations on Earth. It is a terribly bitter and twisted thing for PCG's 1% to claim that California is cursed.

SocietyWatch discusses the rise in membership for Democratic Socialists of America once making their predominantly right wing readers fearful and afraid of the left; scare mongers that about 40% of British citizens think a universal income is a good idea; scare mongering about Confucius Institutes in the United States; and scare mongering about more Americans adopting Buddhism. Seemingly religious freedom is unwelcome to PCG when it does not work to their advantage.

Here's a letter from Missouri which reveals that PCG are mainly looking for a right wing leaning audience with their recruitment magazine.

My husband and I were very impressed with your magazine; it is wonderful to see something non-liberal in this world.

Here's a letter from Ontario praising PCG's involvement in archaeology in the Holy Land.

I am blessed by the Trumpet magazine, especially in the area of prophecy. I enjoyed reading the article on the Hezekiah seals. Actions speak louder than words, and it was good reading that AC students soiled their hands in making this discovery possible.

It does not matter what PCG may happen to help dig up in the Holy Land. Among those who are knowledgeable about PCG among the other COG groups and those no longer associated with Armstrongism PCG's reputation will remain as abysmal as ever. Just a few days ago yet another tragedy associated with PCG has been reported within the COG blogosphere. Digging up some historical artifacts in the ground does nothing to address the severe problems that have been stated regarding PCG.

And so we see that PCG has released yet another issue of their recruitment magazine seeking yet more tithe paying converts. If only their readers could be aware of the problems that have been stated regarding PCG and Armstrongism in general.

PCG Denies Climate Change Made Hurricane Michael So Awful

Mark Armstrong has insisted that climate change did not cause Hurricane Michael to be as powerful as it was. PCG has also chosen to agree with Mark Armstrong as may be seen in the following article (Michael Davis, Hurricane Michael Not a ‘Natural’ Disaster, October 12, 2018).

According to this theory, industrial carbon dioxide emissions have warmed the air and ocean water, ultimately creating stronger storms. Is this theory accurate, though? Is the widespread, popular belief of climate change and global warming factually sound?

But PCG insists that humanity is not causing climate change. Instead they insist that weather related disasters are signs of (the Armstrongite) God's wrath against humanity. In this article Davis cites a British columnist named Melanie Phillips who is greatly adored by the PCG leadership and who has been quoted numerous times in PCG's recruitment writings since 2000. 

According to accomplished author and journalist Melanie Phillips, the community promoting climate change has a history of manipulating the data to make it fit its hypothesis. Why would it do such a thing? Because the evidence does not back up its claims!

Unfortunately some Armstrongite organizations such as Gerald Flurry's PCG and Mark Armstrong's ICG have a motive in denying climate change. If they admitted that the increasing severity of hurricanes is an unfortunate side effect of dumping so much carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than those Armstrongites can no longer insist that storms and other weather related problems are signs of (the Armstrongite) God's anger against sin.

These COGs say that if one obeys (the Armstrongite) God then they shall be protected from later disasters and even get taken to a place of safety to escape the alleged persecution which is said to occur during the Great Tribulation. But if they admit climate change is real than how can they offer protection to members from an unfortunate side effect of dumping carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere?

PCG Says Iran "Seeks the Destruction of the Western World"

(Warren Reinsch, Are Iranian Missile Strikes Becoming a Trend?, October 14, 2018.)

Since its 1979 Islamic takeover, Iran’s regime has sought to overturn the status quo as it seeks the destruction of the Western world. It has primarily conducted its actions through the use of proxies, attempting to shield itself from a direct response from the West. Gradually, Iran’s strategy has led to its dominance as a regional power in the Middle East.

So, according to PCG's 1%, the Iranian government is plotting to bring about "the destruction of the Western world."

This is a grave accusation. But what evidence do they have for this accusation? How, exactly, would Iran's government be able to destroy the Western world? The United States have many nuclear weapons. Iran has none.

What does Reinsch actually mean when he writes of "the destruction of the Western world"? Does he think Iran will throw lots of nuclear weapons at America and elsewhere? Iran does not even have one nuclear weapon.

And even if Iran were to throw lots of nuclear weapons around this would give the perfect justification for the United States to launch lots nuclear weapons at Iran. If this scenario occurred Iran would also be destroyed. (But it will not happen because Iran does not have even one nuclear weapon.)

Or does Reinsch imagine that Iran plots to somehow conquer America through military force? Again Iran cannot do that. American has a military presence in the Middle East. Any such attempted conquest of America would have to first attack and somehow neutralize US armed forces stationed in the Middle East. So Iran cannot conquer America.

Furthermore how could Iran project military power against the United States itself? The United States has a military presence in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar and elsewhere in the Middle East. The United States has its alliance with the State of Israel. Other allies such as Saudi Arabia are also oppose Iran. The United States has numerous way to restrain unwanted Iranian influence in the Middle East region.

Taking these facts into account it is clear that Iran simply cannot destroy the Western world. Reinsch is wrong and has made his readers unnecessarily afraid of such an absurd thing occurring

***

But why is PCG so hostile towards Iran?

PCG's hostility to Iran goes back to Gerald Flurry's proclamation in 1994 that Iran would be the King of the South. By promoting fear and hostility towards Iran PCG's leaders seek to "prove" to their followers that Gerald Flurry is able to see the future and is thus worthy of accepting tithes and offerings of money from his followers, as opposed to the other Armstrongite organizations in existence. PCG demonizes Iran in order to "prove" that their leader, Gerald Flurry, is somehow uniquely in touch with God.

This false prophecy is doomed to failure.

HWA Plagiarized Herman Hoeh's 1955 Article on Easter

In Herbert W. Armstrong's 1973 booklet, The Plain Truth About Easter, the following passage may be found. There are a few differences. Some differences are stylistic. Some sections are removed. But for the most part this lengthy section of the 1973 booklet was largely plagiarized from Herman Hoeh's article, "The Astounding Truth About Easter" (Plain Truth, April 1955, pp. 3-6, 16).

Many sensational claims are made in this passage in order to make readers disillusioned with mainstream Christian churches which celebrate Easter in order to make such readers more susceptible into joining HWA's organization, the Worldwide Church of God. (Until January 1968 HWA's organization called itself the Radio Church of God.)

However neither HWA nor Herman Hoeh received professional teaching regarding the history of the Christian religion. It is well known that HWA plagiarized many of "his" ideas from other sources such as the Seventh Day Adventists and their various offshoots, the Jehovah's Witnesses and Alexander Hyslop's 1850s screed against Catholicism, The Two Babylons. And Hoeh was taught what he knew about religion by HWA in an unaccredited "college" led by HWA.

Furthermore HWA and Hoeh made made many false predictions that failed. From 1953 onward they taught that Christ would return in 1975 after the Great Tribulation would supposedly begin in 1972. There are many other failed predictions. These failed prophesies prove that God does not speak through them.

Therefore there is no need to listen to HWA and Hoeh self serving denunciation of mainstream Christian churches. It was an attempt to expand their own organization at the expense of mainstream Christian churches.

Below is the relevant section from the 1973 booklet, The Plain Truth About Easter, which listed HWA as the booklet's author without giving any credit to Herman Hoeh or making any mention of Hoeh's 1955 article.

The First Historical Records 

The early Church of God in New Testament times was taught that Jesus was in the grave three days and three nights -- that He arose at the close of the third day after the crucifixion. The crucifixion occurred upon a Wednesday, April 25, A.D. 31. 

The Passover was observed annually, on the eve of Christ's death, on Nisan 14 of God's Sacred Calendar. This New Testament practice was followed in the West universally until shortly after the death of the Apostle John. In the Eastern Roman Empire the true practice continued even longer. 

Here is what happened in the East! 

A calendar change occured during the middle of the second century A.D., after which new ideas began to be introduced into the professing Christian world. The true Christians who fled Jerusalem, "continued to use the Jewish cycle [God's method of reckoning the Passover in the Sacred Calendar] till the bishops of Jerusalem who were of the circumcision were succeeded by others who were not of the circumcision [unconverted Gentiles -- and]...they began to invent other cycles" (Bingham's Antiquities of the Christian Church, p. 1152). 

This same author continues: "We see, at this time [middle of second century] the Jewish calculation [determined by God's Calendar which the Jews had accurately preserved] was generally rejected by the...church, and yet no certain one agreed upon in its room [stead]...." 

This is how the Passover -- sometimes called Lord's Supper or Eucharist -- was gradually rejected. 

The Lord's Supper on Saturday! 

Remember that up to this point the Churches of God universally understood that Jesus rose after three days -- on Saturday evening shortly before sunset. 

With the rejection of God's Sacred Calendar by many in the professing Christian world, the many now began to do what seemed right to them. Not only did they begin to miscalculate the annual occurrence of the Passover, but in the East they began to observe the Passover weekly on Saturday, the Sabbath, believe it or not! Here is the proof: 

For over 200 years this custom was a universal practice of the Eastern churches. The church historian Socrates wrote in his Ecclesiastical History, book V, chapter 22: "While therefore some in Asia Minor observed the day above-mentioned [he means that some continued to observe the Passover on the 14th of Nisan as the apostles did] others in the East kept this feast on the Sabbath indeed...." By "Sabbath" all early writers meant Saturday! 

So universal was the custom of observing the "Lord's Supper" on Saturday that he continued to write: "For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the Sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this." 

Did you catch the real significance of this quotation? 

The Passover was transformed from an annual memorial in memory of the death of Christ into a weekly memorial in honor of His resurrection, which occurred on Saturday. These weekly "Passovers" were called the "sacred mysteries." A part of those ancient mysteries was later the festival of Easter. 

But Easter did not enter suddenly. It entered slowly, under the pretext of being a Christian custom. 

Many faithful were still observing the practices of the original true Church. Others began to hold the "sacred mysteries" every Saturday to honor, as they thought, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But how were the false teachers going to alter the knowledge that Jesus was three days and three nights in the tomb? 

"Good Friday-Easter Sunday" Tradition 

Let's notice! From the Syriac Didascalia, composed shortly before the time of Constantine, we have a record of what happened in those early days. False teachers began to interpret the three days and three nights in the following clever fashion: 

They claimed Jesus suffered on the cross, supposedly on Friday, for about six hours. The daylight hours from nine in the morning to noon they counted as one day. The hours from noon to three o'clock -- when the land was darkened -- they reckoned as the first night. Then the time from three o'clock to sunset was reckoned as the second day. Friday night to Saturday morning became the second night; the daylight of Saturday, the third day; and Saturday night to Sunday morning, the third night. 

A very clever argument -- and it deceived a great many people! Those false ministers twisted the truth that Jesus was in the grave three days and three nights. 

For the first time the idea of a Sunday resurrection was injected into the churches. Now observe what happened. 

Easter Sunday Begins Earlier at Rome 

In commenting on those who did not observe the Passover in accordance with the practice of the apostles, Irenaeus, who lived toward the close of the second century, wrote to Bishop Victor of Rome, "We mean Anicetus, and Pius, and Hyginus, and Telesphorus, and Xystus. They neither observed it [the true Passover on the 14th of Nisan] nor did they permit those after them to do so"(Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers, Vol. I, p. 243). 

Who were these men? -- bishops of the church at Rome! Here is the first record, by a Catholic, of the fact that the Roman bishops no longer observed the Passover at the correct God given time, but on a Sunday! 

It was Bishop Xystus (his name is also spelled Sixtus) who was the first recorded individual to prevent the proper observance of the Passover, and to celebrate the sacred mysteries annually on a Sunday. Irenaeus speaks further of him, declaring that his doctrine was in direct "opposition" to the practice of the remainder of the churches. Bishop Sixtus was living at the beginning of the second century, just after the Apostle John died. 

Notice, too, that Easter Sunday did not begin with Peter or Paul in the 60's A.D., but with Sixtus in the second century! 

Here you have the astounding origin of Easter Sunday in the Western churches. Together with this practice, the "sacred mysteries" were also observed every Sunday! 

The Romans Divided 

The introduction of this custom naturally divided the Christians at Rome. The Catholic historian Abbe Duchesne wrote: "There were many Christians of Asia in Rome at that time [remember that the Church of God at Rome was founded by those who came from Asia Minor where Paul preached] and the very early Popes, Xystus and Telesphorus, saw them every year keep their Pasch [the true Passover] the same day as did the Jews. They maintained that was correct. It was allowed to pass...though the rest of Rome observed a different use" (The Early History of the Church, Vol. I, p. 210). 

These are startling facts, but they are true! It is time we knew about them! 

Irenaeus wrote even more regarding the observance of Easter at Rome and elsewhere as follows: "But Polycarp also was not only instructed by the apostles, and acquainted with many that had seen Christ, but was also appointed by apostles in Asia, bishop of the Church of Smyrna.... He also was in Rome in the time of Anicetus [bishop of Rome, A.D. 155-166] and caused many to turn away from the...heretics to the Church of God, proclaiming that he had received from the apostles this one and sole truth..." While at Rome, Polycarp discussed the matter of Easter with the Roman bishop. 

Irenaeus continued: "For neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp not to observe it [the Passover] because he had always observed it with John the disciple of our Lord, and the rest of the apostles, with whom he associated; and neither did Polycarp persuade Anicetus to observe it, who said that he was bound to follow the customs of the presbyters before him" (Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, book V, chapter 24, quoted in Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1, p. 244). 

Counterfeit Vision 

Shortly after Polycarp left, there appeared an amazing letter -- said by many scholars to have been a deliberate forgery. This letter states: "Pope Pius, who lived about 147, had made a decree, That the annual solemnity of the Pasch [Pasch is the Greek word for Passover] should be kept on the Lord's day [Sunday] and in confirmation of this he pretended, that Hermes [Hermas], his brother, who was then an eminent teacher among them, had received instruction from an angel, who commanded that all men should keep the Pasch on the Lord's day" (Joseph Bingham, Antiquities of the Christian Church, pp. 1148-1149). 

Of this same hoax, we read in Apostolical Fathers, by James Donaldson, page 324: "One of the letters forged in the name of Pius, where one Hermas [Hermes] is mentioned as the author; and it is stated that in his book a commandment was given through an angel to observe the Passover on a Sunday." 

If this letter was a deliberate forgery, it was invented after Polycarp's time in an effort to lend weight to the custom of Anicetus, bishop of Rome, who maintained the Sunday observance of the Eucharist or Passover. If it was not a forgery, then Pius himself was the author of this deceptive letter. (Pius died just prior to the visit of Polycarp to Rome.) 

Constantine -- the Man of Power 

Constantine then convoked the first general council of the Christian professing world. The Council of Nicaea decided, under his authority, that Easter must be celebrated on Sunday and that the Passover must be forbidden! 

Without regard to these decisions, many continued faithful. For this reason Constantine issued an edict declaring: "We have directed, accordingly, that you be deprived of all houses in which you are accustomed to hold your assemblies...public or private" (Life of Constantine, book III). 

Easter Still Observed on Different Sundays 

Though everyone was now forced to observe Easter or flee the urban areas of the Roman Empire, the churches were still divided over the exact Sunday for Easter. Here is how confusing matters became: 

"But notwithstanding any endeavors that could be used then, or afterwards, there remained great differences in the church about it for many ages. For the churches of Great Britain and Ireland did not accord with the Roman church in keeping Easter on the same Sunday, till about the year 800. Nor was the Roman way fully received in France, till it was settled there by the authority of Charles the Great..." (Bingham's Antiquities of the Christian Church, p. 1151). 

These are startling facts -- but they ought to make you wake up to the truth! It is high time we learned exactly what has happened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to the practices of the New Testament Church of God these past 1900 years!

For comparison here is the relevant section from Herman Hoeh's 1955 article (pp. 3-6, 16). The highlighted passages indicate that which HWA plagiarized into "his" 1973 booklet, The Plain Truth About Easter. He gave no acknowledgement that these words were authored by Herman Hoeh but HWA deceptively presented these passages as though he had written them. Herbert Armstrong stole the credit for these words that belonged to Herman Hoeh.

The First Historical Records

The early Church of God in New Testament times was taught that Jesus was in the grave three days and three nights--that He arose at the close of the third day after the crucifixion. The crucifixion occurred upon a Wednesday, April 25, 31 A.D. This historical date of the passover is demonstrated by seven irrefutable proofs which we published in The PLAIN TRUTH two years ago. Thursday, in 31 A.D., was an annual sabbath. This is demonstrated from the Bible in Mr. Armstrong’s FREE booklet on the “Resurrection,” already mentioned.  

The practice of the New Testament Church of God was to observe an annual memorial of the death of Jesus Christ. This memorial was called the passover--commonly misnamed the “Lord’s Supper.” There is not sufficient space in this article to mention the many scriptures which clarify this little-understood practice of the apostles (I Cor. 5: 7-8). 

If you want the proof, write for the FREE booklet “How often should we partake of the LORD’S SUPPER?” which explains the New Testament practice in entirety.  

The Passover was observed annually, on the eve of Christ’s death, on Nisan 14 of God’s Sacred Calendar. You can find this information in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, or even in the “World Almanac” in your town Library. This New Testament practice was followed universally until shortly after the death of the apostle John.  

Here is what happened!

A calendar change occurred in 104 A.D., after which new ideas began to be introduced into the Church. The Christians who fled Jerusalem in 69 A.D. “continued to use the Jewish cycle”-- God's method of reckoning the passover in the sacred calendar--”till the bishops of Jerusalem who were of the circumcision were succeeded by others who were not of the circumcision”-unconverted Gentiles-and ‘‘ . . . they began to invent other cycles” (p. 1152 of Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christ& Church).

Yes, Easter began as the invention of men--who exchanged the God-given paschal festival for the pagan Easter Sunday.  

This same author continues: “We see, at this time the Jewish calculation”--God’s inspired method of determining the passover which the Jews had accurately preserved--“was generally rejected by the . . . church, and yet no certain one agreed upon in its room. . .”  

This is how the passover--incorrectly called Lord’s Supper or Eucharist--was gradually rejected.

The Lord’s Supper on Saturday!

Remember that up to this point the churches of God universally understood that Jesus rose after three days--on Saturday evening shortly before sunset. Many now began to do what seemed right to them. Not only did many begin to miscalculate the annual occurrence of the Passover, but they began to observe the passover weekly on Saturday, the Sabbath, believe it or not! Here is the proof:

For over 200 years this custom was a universal practice of the apostatizing churches! The Catholic church historian, Socrates, wrote: “While therefore some in Asia Minor observed the day abovementioned”--he means that some faithfully observed the passover on the 14th of Nisan as the apostles did--“others in the East kept THIS FEAST ON THE SABBATH INDEED . . . ” By “sabbath” all early writers meant Saturday!

So universal was the custorn of observing the “Lord’s Supper” on Saturday that he continued to write: “For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this.” You may find this amazing testimony in Vol. 2 of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, pp. 131-132, from the Ecclesiastical History of Socrates, book V, chapter 22.

Did you catch the real significance of this quotation?

The passover was transformed by false teachers from an annual memorial in memory of the death of Christ into a weekly memorial in honor of His resurrection, which occurred on Saturday. These weekly “passovers” were called the “sacred mysteries”! What did Paul say about the sacred mysteries?  

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come”-- the day of Christ’s return--“except there come a falling away first”--an apostasy, a falling into error. “For the MYSTERY OF INIQUITY doth already work” (I1 Thess. 2:3, 7). The practices of the pagan sacred mysteries were already creeping into the local congregations of the Church of God in Paul’s day. A part of those ancient mysteries was the festival of Easter!
But Easter did not enter suddenly. It entered slowly, under the pretext of being a Christian custom. 

Though many faithful were still observing the practices of the original, true church, many congregations began to hold the “sacred mysteries” every Saturday to honor, as they thought, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But how were the false teachers going to alter the knowledge that Jesus was three days and three nights in the tomb?

“Good Friday-Easter Sunday” Tradition

Let’s notice! From the Syriac Didascalia, composed shortly before the time of. Constantine, we have a record of what happened in those early days. False teachers began to interpret the three days and three nights in the following clever fashion:

They claimed Jesus suffered on the cross, supposedly on Friday, for about six hours. The daylight hours from nine in the morning to noon they counted as one day. The hours from noon to three o’clock--when the land was darkened--they reckoned as the first night. Then the time from three o’clock to sunset was reckoned as the second day. Friday night to Saturday morning became the second night; the daylight of Saturday, the third day; and Saturday night to Sunday morning, the third night!  

A very clever argument--and it deceived a great many people! Those false ministers twisted the truth that Jesus was IN THE GRAVE three days and three nights.

For the first time the idea of a Sunday resurrection was injected into the churches. Now observe what happened.

Easter Sunday Begins at Rome

In commenting on those who did not observe the passover in accordance with the practice of the apostles, Irenaeus, a Catholic living toward the close of the second century wrote to bishop Victor of Rome, ”We mean Anicetus, and Pius,and Hyginus, and Telesphorus, and Xystus. They neither observed it”--the true passover on the 14th of Nisan”-- “nor did they permit those after them to do so.”

Who were these men?--bishops of the church at Rome! Here is the first record, by a Catholic, of the fact that the Roman bishops no longer observed the passover on the correct God-given time, but on a Sunday!

It was bishop Xystus (his name is also spelled Sixtus) who was the first recorded individual to prevent the proper observance of the passover, and to celebrate the sacred mysteries annually on a Sunday. Irenaeus speaks further of him, declaring that his doctrine was in direct “opposition” to the practice of the remainder of the churches. Bishop Sixtus was living at the beginning of the second century, just after the apostle John died.

Here you have the astounding origin of Easter Sunday in the churches. Together with this practice, the “sacred mysteries” were also observed every Sunday!

The Romans Divided

The introduction of this custom naturally divided the Christians at Rome. The Catholic historian, Abbé Duchesne, wrote: “There were many Christians of Asia in Rome at that time”--remember that the Church of God at Rome was founded by those who came from Asia Minor where Paul preached-“and the very early Popes, Xystus and Telesphorus, saw them every year keep their Pasch”-the true passover--“the same day as did the Jews. They maintained that was correct. It was allowed to pass . . . though the rest of Rome observed a different use” (Vol. I, p. 210, of The Early History of the Church).  

I know these are startling facts, but they are true! It is time we knew about them!

Irenaeus wrote even more regarding the observance of Easter at Rome and elsewhere as follows: “But Polycarp also was not only instructed by the apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church of Smyrna . . . He it was who, coming to Rome in the time of Anicetus”- bishop of Rome around 154 A.D.- “caused many to turn away from the . . . heretics to the Church of God, proclaiming that he had received this one and sole truth from the apostles . . . ” While at Rome, Polycarp discussed the matter of Easter with the Roman bishop.

Irenaeus continued: “For neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp not to observe it”--the passover--“because he had always observed it with John the disciple of our Lord, and the rest of the apostles, with whom he associated; and neither did Polycarp persuade Anicetus to observe it, who said that he was bound to follow the customs of the presbyters before him” (Quoted from Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, book V, chap. 24, in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1 ).  

Notice that bishop Anicetus had no scriptural grounds--he determined to follow the “customs” of men!--Easter Sunday!  

A Fake Vision from God  

Shortly after Polycarp left, there appeared an amazing letter--said by many scholars to have been a deliberate forgery. This letter states: “Pope Pius, who lived about 147, had made a decree, That the annual solemnity of the Pasch [Pasch is the Greek word for Parsouer] should be kept only on the Lord’s day”--Sunday--“and in confirmation of this he pretended, that Hermes, his brother, who was then an eminent teacher among them, had received instruction from an angel, who commanded that all men should keep the Pasch on the Lord’s day.” (From pp. 1148-1149 of Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church.)  

Of this same hoax we read in Apostolical Fathers, by Donaldson, p. 324, “One of the letters forged in the name of Pius, where one Hermas is mentioned as the author; and it is stated that in his book a commandment was given through an angel to observe the Passover on a Sunday.”

If this letter was a deliberate forgery, it was invented after Polycarp’s time in an effort to lend weight to the custom of Anicetus, bishop of Rome, who maintained the Sunday observance of the eucharist or passover. If it were nor a forgery, then Pius himself was the author of this deceptive letter. (Pius died just prior to the visit of Polycarp to Rome. )
But the Easter controversy did not end here!  

Within 35 years it broke out vehemently between Polycrates of Asia Minor and Victor of Rome, who attempted to “cut off whole churches of God, who observed the tradition of an ancient custom”--the true passover. 

Here is a part of the forthright answer given by Polycrates to Victor, vindicating the uuth of God.  

“As for us, then, we scrupulously observe the exact day, neither adding nor taking away. For in Asia great luminaries have gone to their rest, who shall rise again in the day of the coming of the Lord . . . I speak of Philip, one of the twelve apostles . . . John, moreover, who reclined on the Lord’s bosom . . . Then there is Polycarp . . . THESE ALL KEPT THE PASSOVER ON THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOSPEL, WITHOUT EVER DEVIATING FROM IT, BUT KEEPING TO THE RULE OF FAITH.”  

This remarkable letter is preserved in Vol. 8 of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, pp. 773-774. 

Polycrates came from that area in which Paul spent most of his time--in Asia Minor, near Ephesus. This is also where John spent his last days. Here we have many Christians still remaining true to the faith!  

Here is proof that both the apostles to the circumcision and Paul, the special apostle to the Gentiles, taught the observance of the passover on the 14th of the first month of God’s sacred calendar. Chrysostom, who wrote several centuries after the apostles admitted that “formerly it [the passover] prevailed also at Antioch” from where Paul began many of his apostolic journeys.  

Now, what happened to stamp out the true observance of the passover from the popular churches? 

Constantine--the Man of Power

Constantine then convoked the first general council of the Christian-professing world. The Council of Nicaea decided, under his authority, that Easter must be celebrated on Sunday and that the passover must be forbidden!

Without regard to these decisions, many continued faithful. For this reason Constantine issued an edict declaring: “We have directed, accordingly, that you be deprived of all houses in which you are accustomed to hold your assemblies . . . public or private.” (From the Life of Constantine, book 111.)

Easter Still Observed on Different Sundays

Though everyone was now forced to observe Easter or flee the confines of the Roman Empire, the churches were still divided over the exact Sunday for Easter. Here is how confusing matters became:

“But notwithstanding any endeavours that could be used then, or afterwards, there remained great differences in the church about it for many ages. For the churches of Great Britain and Ireland did not accord with the Roman church in keeping Easter on the same Sunday, till about the year 800. Nor was the Roman way fully received in France, till it was settled there by the authority of Charles the Great . . . ” (p. 1151).

I know these are startling facts--but they ought to make you wake up to the TRUTH! It is high rime we learned exactly what has happened to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to the practices of the New Testament Church of God these past 1900 years!

And that ends Herman Hoeh's 1955 article.

What a fraud Herbert Armstrong was. He presented these words authored by Herman Hoeh as though they were written by himself. This makes Herbert Armstrong a thief.

There is no need to listen to a thief like Herbert Armstrong.

PCG's Joel Hilliker Denounces Opposition to Brett Kavanaugh

Unsurprisingly PCG's 1% think Brett Kavanaugh's promotion to the Supreme Court is wonderful news and they seem to think that anybody who does not approve of his nomination otherwise is wrong to do so. That is the distinct impression one will get from reading Joel Hilliker's article on the subject. ('Shame on You!,' October 10, 2018.)

Currently Republicans control the Senate so it was always rather likely that President Trump's nominee would gain the post. During the nomination process Dr. Christine Blasey Ford accused and later testified that many years ago Kavanaugh had attacked her. And what does Joel Hilliker think about what she has said?

On Friday, Collins announced her decision in a 43-minute speech on the Senate floor. She reviewed Kavanaugh’s judicial record, showing that he was not a radical, then addressed the accusations that Kavanaugh committed sexual misconduct 36 years ago when he was a teenager, allegations that have proved unsubstantiated, unprovable, even outlandish. “That such an allegation can find its way into the Supreme Court confirmation process is a stark reminder about why the presumption of innocence is so ingrained in our American consciousness,” she said. Collins’s case was sound and well reasoned.

Over time other women, namely Deborah Ramirez, Julie Swetnick and another anonymous accuser, also presented accusations of unlawful conduct by Brett Kavanaugh but somehow they are not mentioned in Hilliker's article.

Hilliker insists that there is no legitimate reason to oppose Brett Kavanaugh's ascension to the Supreme Court. He makes no attempt to try and view things from the left's perspective. His view is seemingly the only perspective that matters.

Leftists had no constitutional reason, no compelling reason, no logical reason to block Kavanaugh. They pronounce shame on him and his supporters for political reasons.

Back in 2016 Republican Senators blocked President Obama from nominating Merrick Garland to be appointed to the Supreme Court even though this act left a seat of the Supreme Court vacant for over a year. And somehow Hilliker insists that this is not a compelling reason for the political left to oppose Kavanaugh's nomination.

Hilliker comments on Senator Manchin's decision to approve Kavanaugh's nomination. While on that topic Hilliker further reveals his opinion of Dr. Ford's testimony.

Shame on Senator Manchin and on Republicans for upholding the rule of law! Shame on Manchin for not politicizing his vote—shame on him for not ignoring the evidence before him and simply voting like a sheep along with his party to oppose the president, regardless of Brett Kavanaugh’s qualifications! Shame on him for not destroying a man because a woman made an unsubstantiated accusation against him. Shame on anyone who didn’t simply “believe women,” accept everything his accusers said at face value, and presume his guilt!

Hilliker has more to say about Dr. Ford's accusation.

Let’s talk about sexual conduct. Christine Blasey Ford claimed that a 17-year-old Brett Kavanaugh had gotten drunk at a party and jumped on her on a bed before she escaped. She did not claim that he raped her, or even came close. Nevertheless, Democrats insisted that this incident should disqualify Kavanaugh from ever serving on the Supreme Court. We must set the bar very high when it comes to sexual conduct and respecting women, they insisted.

It is baffling that Hilliker felt like he should write down the sentence highlighted above. It is sort of like implying that one should should not worry about attempted murder since the murder did not actually occur.

Furthermore Hilliker makes no mention of allegations that Brett Kavanaugh may have committed perjury. Questions about previous decisions made by Kavanaugh are also not addressed. Somehow those topics are not worth discussing according to Hilliker.

While discussing this topic he mentions New Orleans, the city which suffered so much in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina, in an unflattering way. It would have been so easy for Hilliker to simply not mention the city by name.

A couple of days ago as I was flipping between news stations, my attention was arrested for a moment on a reality show where a group of friends discussed where they should go for a road trip. One said she had the perfect spot: New Orleans. Why? Because there they could get as drunk as they wanted and never get kicked out of a bar. There they could urinate or vomit in the street and never get arrested or even draw much attention. The group of 10 or so friends cheered wildly at this idea! 

Shame! That—and the whole gutter culture it represents—is something Americans should be ashamed of.

Elsewhere in the article he insists that opponents of Brett Kavanaugh's ascension to the Supreme Court are hypocrites for allowing conduct contrary to PCG dogma but that line of thought does not directly address the question of whether Brett Kavanaugh should have been appointed to the Supreme Court or not. That is just whataboutery.

Seeing that PCG's 1% seem unwilling to speak out against Kavanaugh's ascension to the Supreme Court despite allegations of criminal conduct this leads to other questions that needs to be asked. However only PCG's 1% can answer the following questions, namely:

How much does the sexual harassment of women by men matter to PCG's 1%?

And if an allegation arise about someone in authority within PCG, what are the rest of PCG's 1% going to do about that?

Mark Armstrong: "Global Warming Hysteria" Will Destroy American Sovereignty

The whole world has witnessed with horror the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael as it advanced into inhabited land. At present seventeen fatalities have been noted. Many people are suffering and in distress because of this particularly powerful hurricane. It is in the midst of this severe crisis Mark Armstrong, leader of the Intercontinental Church of God, son of Garner Ted Armstrong, grandson of Herbert Armstrong, made yet another weekly update for his followers (October 12, 2018).

Let's see what he has to say this time.

Greetings from Tyler, 

It looks as though Panama City Beach fared comparatively well, with downed trees, broken power poles and mostly superficial damage.  However, the devastation of Mexico Beach, Florida is complete.  Looking at some of the aerial footage, it's hard to imagine anyone surviving the awesome power of that storm.  So far, reports confirm thirteen dead, but we may not know the full extent of losses for days to come.  

He states that at present it is not yet possible to confirm the status of all Intercontinental Church of God members who might have been affected by the hurricane.

There are some members in the general vicinity, and so far we've been unable to contact them.  However, there are widespread service outages and presumably we'll hear from them in due time.  None to our knowledge were living in Mexico Beach or in the direct path of the storm. 

And at this point Mark Armstrong switches to the main theme of this weekly update: a shrill denunciation of those who speak out about the ongoing climate change crisis. People are pointing out that the altered climate has caused the hurricanes of today to actually be more severe than hurricanes in the past. But instead of learning about this topic Mark Armstrong insists that he is a victim for denying that climate change is happening. 

But they (mainstream publications and politicians) couldn't wait, even until the dead can be counted, to turn this hurricane into a political issue.  It was the fault of “global warming” when Florence stalled and dropped feet of rain on North Carolina.  Trump, they said, was “complicit,” with the disastrous flooding because he pulled the United States out of the Paris Climate Accords.  Now that Hurricane Michael blasted through the Florida coastline of Mexico Beach and moved on rapidly it's the fault of, you guessed it.

Mark Armstrong insists he and his followers are victims of those who discuss the ongoing climate change crisis.

Global warming “supercharged the storm,” and this storm has “a human fingerprint.”  Man-made global warming, get it?  All the mainstream publications have it all figured out.  It's man's fault the Gulf waters were warm this year.  It's Americans' fault for being prosperous and Donald Trump's fault for being a skeptic, at least of their ruinous solutions as laid out by those who want the U. S. to pay with its existence.  CNN says it's not a “natural disaster,” because they want us to believe that humans, and that means us, are to blame.

He vilifies those he oppose as having "no bounds of decency."

At least the mainstream outlets are true to their strategy of never letting a crisis go to waste.  As the death toll rises, we can expect the rhetoric to go as crazy as it did during the Kavanaugh debacle.  They simply know no bounds of decency.  First thing you know they'll be saying that those who don't believe their theory have blood on their hands, they've said it before. 

He then denounce Atheism, acceptance of transgender people and "socialism," which in his vocabularly could mean anyone left of his preferred president.

The interesting thing about all this from our point of view is that people who promote and believe their own “scientific” hype are the same ones who deny the existence of God, promote 56 genders and think socialism is the answer to all the world's problems.    

He mocks those who are concerned that the ongoing climate change crisis could have a terrible impact on how we humans can live on Earth.

There is no “Planet B!” the signs warn us.  No logic can compete with brilliance like that!  They're so proud of that little play on words, it's all over TV and displayed with the articles that shame the American president and his supporters.  We'll surely be put in our place by such insightful brilliance.  Well, at least until we have a look at who's carrying the sign.

He indulges in bewailing his supposed victimhood at the hands of the scientific consensus that climate change is happening and is being caused by human activity.

Only a matter of years are left!  Say, 20.  If we don't limit the rise of earth's temperature to less than 2 degrees centigrade we'll face catastrophes that'll make the two devastating hurricanes this year look like a picnic.  That's the claim every time there's any weather event.  They'd have liked to make “climate change denial” a crime if only they'd had a little more time.  It's already a “virtual crime” in the universe of social media.  And note this.  Total and utter global catastrophe is never, NEVER more than ten to twenty years away.   If their claims of recent decades were true, the equatorial rain forests would have been long gone by now.  The polar ice-caps would have long since melted.  The Himalayan glaciers would have disappeared and the world's coastal cities would be underwater. 

He implies that those warning about climate are relying on fraudulent information.

Hurricanes and typhoons were a fact of nature long before the global warming hysteria took hold.  History shows that the earth and seas have been a lot warmer than now in centuries past.  We've also seen that the primary sources of global-warming dogma have not been shy about altering data to make their case.  When caught, they just scream the louder.

He then makes this very ironic statement considering the many false prophecies the purveyors of Armstrongism have made over the years. He also implies that those concerned about climate change will destroy American sovereignty.

But just like every other false prophet, they just change the dates and keep preaching disaster unless we conform to their One World solutions.  By the way.  Their solutions do not include a sovereign and prospering United States of America.  No, we're the problem and they've got all the answers.  And none of those answers include God because, scientists and socialists know better.     

Mark

Overall this missive of his seems to be in particularly bad taste considering the ongoing disaster caused by Hurricane Michael. Also Mark Armstrong was born in the 1950s but the rest of us who were born later and are being born at present will have to face the consequences of climate change long after Mark Armstrong goes the way of all humanity. Hopefully the climate change crisis will be manged effectively by future generations. If so it will be without the help of deniers like Mark Armstrong.

PCG Condemns Dehumanization; Calls Democratic Party "the Party of Violence and Hate"

You can't make this stuff up. On October 8 PCG's radio station broadcast an episode of The Trumpet Daily decrying a culture of dehumanization in American politics.

For many Americans, any person with opposing political or ideological views isn’t merely incorrect or mistaken—he is inherently evil and dangerous, and must be destroyed. In today’s program, guest presenter Brad Macdonald considers the growing proclivity in America to dehumanize the enemy and the nation’s descent to full-scale civil conflict. (October 8, 2018.)

But it appears that in the eyes of PCG's 1% this is a problem that mainly affects only one side of the political divide. Just a few days later another episode of this broadcast denounced the Democratic Party. The broadcast was entitled "The Party of Violence and Hate."

The Democratic Party is bent on bringing down President Donald Trump, but at what cost to the nation? Antifa-style tactics like harassment, intimidation and even violence are now encouraged by leading Democrats. Hillary Clinton, who was almost president of the United States, recently said that civility will only return when the Democratic Party regains power. Why is the left inciting hatred and violence? Bible prophecy reveals what is causing this and where it is leading. (October 11, 2018.)

PCG's writers sometimes like to imply that the organization is not political since their followers are taught not to vote. Nevertheless the political opinions of PCG's 1% is very much aligned with the political right.

Notes from Plain Truth Issues of 1959-1961

Recently I took a look through some old Plain Truth issues that were published from 1959 until 1961. Let's take a look.

August 1959

This issue features a letter from what was then called Southern Rhodesia, namely modern day Zimbabwe.

Pastor in Africa writes  

“I am a trained pastor . . . and a regular reader of your interesting magazine, The PLAIN TRUTH. I would suggest that all God’s ministers who need both human and divine guidance in matters of true religion read this unique magazine every month. When I was reading the ‘Exciting News about Ambassador College,’ I became deeply moved by a desire to train in this unique college-God’s own college.”  

Gatooma, Southern Rhodesia

September 1959

This featured a letter from a person who seemed to be influenced by some sort of Adventists.

No More Truth Since 1844?

“Dear Mr. Armstrong:

“I hear your program over WKYB almost every day. We enjoy it so much. I have been writing you for sometime and asking questions, and I sure do appreciate the answers I have gotten. Since I first read your PLAIN TRUTH it has opened my eyes.

“I have been a member of a denominational Church for three years. Last summer my husband and little girl were baptized. She is eleven years old. And since we have been listening to your preaching and the scripture you read, we feel like they don’t have the message for today. We want to do the will of God above all things.

“My Pastor wanted me to say that we would stop listening to you, but I told him we wouldn’t. He says you couldn’t have the last message because it didn’t come about at the appointed time (1844) and that it wasn’t world wide. But we are reading our Bible and praying to have a clear understanding. God says if you want wisdom ask of God. So we are doing that. We have decided to send you our tithe.”

Woman from Paducah, Kentucky.

Editor’s Comment: Many scriptures were purposely closed and sealed until the “time of the end”-this 20th century, not 1844 during the Advent Movement! The WORLD TOMORROW broadcast is world-wide, reaching every inhabited continent with great power.

December 1959

This issue featured a letter from India.

From Far-off India  

“I feel so thrilled to read The PLAIN TRUTH. It is positively an eye opener. It was my husband who brought this magazine into our home, and I have been regularly reading it for the last many, many years. I have kept all my copies very carefully - they are very precious to me.”  

Lady from Poona, India

February 1960

This issue featured a letter from South Africa.

Man from South Africa  

“I have the pleasure of informing you how much I have benefited from your lectures, and am still enjoying them very much. I must say there has been a great change in my life since I have read and studied The PLAIN TRUTH.”  

Man from Johannesburg, South Africa

March 1960

This issue featured many letters from outside of the United States.

A letter states that one congressman from Alabama was quite impressed with HWA's recruitment magazine.

Congressman Impressed 

“Our congressman saw my December issue of The PLAIN TRUTH and was so impressed I gave it to him. In a few days I received a letter stating he really read and enjoyed every word. He is a true American.” 

Reader from Alabama

This issue also published a letter from Singapore during which the editor once boasted that their recruitment writings were free. The idea behind giving such writings away is that a certain percentage of people will respond by sending money to them. This marketing model worked quite well for HWA's WCG.

From Far-away Singapore 

“I am so thankful I came across your magazine not long ago in a fish-seller’s shop. It was while I was seeking some magazines I was very interested in that I accidentally came across your PLAIN TRUTH. So I bought some of the magazines (including The PLAIN TRUTH) from the fish-seller’s wife for 40 cents. I found it very interesting. It was so interesting that I kept reading them from the morning till midnight. I didn’t mean the whole day, I got to have my breakfast and lunch. It was a real blessing to my heart, I do thank God that I had found the truth from this magazine.” 

Editor's Note: This is the only way you can buy a copy of The PLAIN TRUTH. This magazine is sent entirely free to all who request it.

April 1960

This issue featured the following letter.

TV Out-Radio IN  

“Dear Mr. Armstrong:  

“We had our little radio for 12 years and didn’t play it much-only to get the news, because we had TV that kept us entertained. But my husband was out on strike for 8 weeks and our TV went out. Not wanting to get it fixed, we started playing the radio and happened on your program one evening, and have listened ever since. That was last September and the TV is still not fixed. We really don’t miss it and now we get to bed earlier.”  

Couple from Bell, California

Little did they know that HWA condemned workers' strikes and harshly discouraged his followers from joining workers' unions.

June 1960 features pictures noting HWA's first foray into radio broadcasting in October 1933. From 1953 onward the Radio Church of God was quite fixated on 19 year time cycles. It was taught that the Radio Church of God had been given two 19 year time cycles (1934-72) to preach their teachings before the German led European Empire would conquer America in the Great Tribulation. This time period was claimed to begin with the first radio broadcast of HWA on January 7, 1934. However they chose to ignore the fact that HWA began to broadcast over the radio back in October 1933.

July 1960 scare mongers about some sort of death ray was on the verge of being made. Seeing that article I could help but be struck that Armstrongism seems to make more sense in the Cold War era than today.

The issue also features a letter from New Zealand.

My Mind is Open 

“My knowledge of the quality of the READER’S DIGEST plus my respect for it assures me I should write to you again asking you this time to be so good as to send me ‘1975 in Prophecy.’ I do not believe, I do not disbelieve-my mind is open.” 

Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Here's another letter from South Africa.

Truths Are Shattering 

“Thank you very much indeed for sending all the booklets I have requested. These truths are shattering, but I think at last I have found, through God’s help, something I have been looking for for such a long time-the true way of God.” 

Woman from Transvaal, South Africa

August 1960

An individual from South Dakota wrote a letter taking HWA and Co. to task for demonizing Germans. This is a shameful and racist tendency that still continues to be promoted in some Armstrongite organizations.

“Dear Mr. Armstrong: 

“I have followed your broadcasts and years ago your T.V. lectures closely, and value the guidance I received in my lifetime search for the truth. However, I have been disturbed very much by one predominant factor in your teachings which is not compatible with the teachings of Christ. 

“In your magazine, The Plain Truth, Volume XXV No. 3 of March, 1960, your son Garner Ted Armstrong quotes on page 9 Lewis Nizer, in the last chapter, describing the German people as a whole to be determined in their criminality in waging aggressive wars against mankind. He emphasized this by stating that they always were, still are, and always will be, aggressors against mankind. And he specifically quoted that not the German leaders including Hitler were responsible, but the German people as a whole. 

“Even if this was not a distortion of true history, the accusation as such and the publishing of this accusation in your magazine, The Plain Truth, will influence people, good people, to hate rather than to love as Christ did when He stated dying on the cross ‘Father forgive them, for they know not what they do’ . . . My wife and I were . . . born and raised in Germany, and our three sons were also born over there, and I can truthfully state that the bringing up of children is much closer to the Christian ideals and principles than the bringing up of children here in the United States. I personally was drafted into the war of 1914-18, and remember the strict disciplinary measures, including the death penalty we were threatened with if we were to plunder the dead or for committing any sacrilege; where when I came over here I was struck by the foul language that was used by the soldiers on this continent. 

“Notwithstanding the facts, even if the German people were determined aggressors, I do not believe that it is right to inject hatred into the Christian congregation against anybody, regardless of the reason. 

“I know, Mr. Armstrong, that you are very busy, but I would appreciate it if you could at your convenience, answer this letter personally, because it is so important to all of us. 

“Yours in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

From South Dakota

There is then followed by a long editor's comment. This is letter and the response to it is all that is printed in the letters section in this issue. Clearly this letter struck a nerve at Radio Church of God headquarters.

September 1960

The recruitment magazine's serialization of C. Paul Meredith's narrative, "Satan's Great Deception," ends in the September 1960 issue. It is essentially an Armstrongite imitation of Alexander Hyslop's nonsensical anti-Catholic polemic, The Two Babylons, which was made in the 1850s.

October 1960

This issue featured a letter from the Bahamas crediting an article from the recruitment magazine with helping her quit smoking. It is unfortunate that Armstrongism had so many other negative effects on people's health such as poverty due to tithing, authoritarianism, harsh treatment of children, fixation on World War III starting in 1972, avoiding doctors and medicine due to HWA's anti-medicine superstition, etc.

Desire to Smoke Gone!  

“I was in the habit of smoking for 21 years and after I read ‘Should Christians Smoke?’ it left a deep impression on my mind and from March the 6th the ‘feeling of pipe’ are gone.”  

Woman, Andros Island, Bahamas 

In response to the letter below an editor of this recruitment magazine insisted that India would have been doomed to be conquered by China except the Radio Church of God needed to preach to India first. What lunacy!

India Calling Out for Help  

“We, the people of this part of the world, will be very happy if you can make arrangements to have The WORLD TOMORROW sent to us. The number of religious broadcasts that come to our part of the world only mislead and confuse us. We, like the people of Macedonia, can only call out for help -we want the broadcasts, we want baptism, and we want to give you our tithes.”  

Family from Bombay, India  

Editor’s comment: The only reason Red China has not yet engulfed India is that the Gospel of the Kingdom must yet reach the people of India in power!

This issue also featured a letter from a person who wrote down 97 pages of notes while going through the Radio Church of God's indoctrination course.

Has 97 Pages of Notes 

“I really was glad to get hold of lesson #3. It is such a good lesson that I have 97 pages of notes to it. I could have got more in them but I wish to stay within the lesson and not get too far from it.” 

Man from Columbus, Ohio 

Editor’s comment: If you haven’t enrolled for the Correspondence Course send your request today!

October 1960

This issue contains a brief article insisting that the Radio Church of God is suffering persecution because some people happen to criticize them. It is shrilly insisted that such information is all untrue.

Other false accusations have been published with wide circulation. These have reached Britain, Australia, and other countries. Not one of these purported reports on this work or on Mr. Armstrong which has come to our attention contains true facts-every one we have seen has been an irresponsible and reprehensible piece of slander and defamation of character intended to injure, based on heresy and false reports, without having verified the TRUTH!  

If any readers wane the true facts, either as to the background of this work, the personal history of Mr. Armstrong, or as to what we believe and teach, the place to learn it is not from enemies who prove themselves irresponsible and careless with the truth, but direct from us. We will not lie to you. But it is well to remember that one who does not hesitate to misrepresent and twist the facts about us would also misrepresent and twist the truth of the BIBLE! (p. 13.)

One feature of cults is that they try to control their followers' access to information. One way to do this is to train their followers to instantly dismiss information contrary to group dogma as not worth consideration, as may be seen above.

November 1960

Garner Ted Armstrong wrote an article in this issue entitled "How to Rear Children." Later in 1963 the Radio Church of God would release a certain booklet written by Garner Ted Armstrong entitled "The Plain Truth About Child Rearing" which featured advice that encouraged parents to be harsh towards their children. This was a particularly dreadful aspect that Armstrongism that so many children raised up within this organization were forced to endure.

December 1960

This issue features a letter from New Zealand.

Birds, Strawberries and a Scarecrow! 

“I notice that a certain organization accepts no responsibility for the expression voiced in your broadcasts. The wise bird knows that the best strawberries are where the scarecrow stands.” 

Man from New Zealand

An individual from Canada then living in England took HWA and Co. to task for demonizing Germans, a shameful and racist tendency that is still present in some Armstrongite organizations to this day.

Regrets “Criticism” 

“I enjoy your challenging articles but regret your criticism of Germans. We should be glad West Germany has become strong for the West. Had the U.S.A. not helped her she would have fallen under Communist sway like East Germany and would have been made strong for the East. Let’s hold out a friendly hand to this ally and keep our criticism for the Communists who must enjoy your attacks on West Germany.” 

Canadian now living in England 

Editor’s Comment: This is a typical example of seeing only one enemy at a time. We have never “criticized” the German people; but on the contrary respect them highly. God‘s commission to us is to cry aloud and warn this nation of the destruction to come. If you are not aware of Germany’s role in these future events, write immediately for the booklet “1975 in Prophecy” and the article “Germany in Prophecy.”

January 1961

This issue featured a spectacularly xenophobic statement that (white) Australians wold soon become "slaves of the Japanese and Chinese" by 1967. Also a Plain Truth editor insisted that this statement was "absolutely right". What shameful foolishness!

Australians Face Slavery! 

"It is reported today chat George Bilainkin says in perhaps five or six years, Australians will be slaves of the Japanese and Chinese! The PLAIN TRUTH has already said it!" 

Editor's Comment: Mr. Bilainkin's comment is absolutely right except that it cannot happen before this work is completed. The gospel of the Kingdom must first blanket Australia!

This issue also contains an article by Roderick C. Meredith remarking upon West Germany's economic growth.

***

Seeing that around this time President Eisenhower was succeeded by President Kennedy this post ends here.

Herman Hoeh Announced New Translation of New Testament in 1959

Plain Truth, June 1959.

In the June 1959 issue of HWA's Plain Truth recruitment magazine Herman Hoeh announced that the Radio Church of God was preparing to make a new translation of the New Testament.

NEW TRANSLATION of Bible Being Prepared!

Work is already under way on a fresh, clear translation of the inspired Greek text of the New Testament! ... 

Not only is the true gospel now being published and preached around the world and behind the Iron Curtain in several languages, but the groundwork is being laid for the written Word of God-the Holy Bible to be accurately, plainly and clearly translated from the inspired Greek New Testament into English! 

It is time there is a translation which makes the truth of the New Testament plain, readable, clear. It is time we return to the inspired text of the New Testament as the apostles themselves wrote it. (p. 13.)

Most of the rest of the article boasts of the various old manuscripts of the Bible in various languages that had been acquired for the Radio Church of God's unaccredited college, Ambassador College.

Then near the end of the article Herman Hoeh implied that only those who had the spirit of God could properly translate the Bible which, once you untangle the cult jargon, implies that only Radio Church of God members can properly translate the Bible.

The Bible is a book of spiritual truth. Spiritual truth cannot be understood by the natural mind. One has to receive the Spirit of God-be converted-in order to understand the Bible. 

Educated, scholarly critics who were born-as all human beings are-with a natural mind have only half the tools necessary to produce a proper translation of the Bible. On the other hand, uneducated, untrained individuals, though converted, are also unable to really translate the Bible. It takes both attributes--education, scholarship, ability to understand foreign languages AND a spirit filled converted mind. Without both it is impossible to make plain and clear the Word of God. (p. 20.)

Hoeh announced that probably in less than two years, that is by 1961, a new translation of the New Testament by HWA's Radio Church of God would be produced.

It will probably take no less than two years for us to have completed such a translation of the New Testament, from the original Greek, ready for our vast audience. Yes, this is Big News! (p. 20.)

But as it turned out this translation was never published.

Considering how often HWA imitated the Jehovah's Witnesses it is worth noting that back in 1950 that particular organization released their own translation of the New Testament which was named the New World Translation. Their own translation of the Old Testament followed later. Outside of that organization it is often viewed as a sectarian paraphrase which favors that organization's interpretations.

If the Radio Church of God had actually printed their own translation of the New Testament it is likely the same problems would have arisen.

Whither PCG's Robert Morley?

From the August 2016 issue of PCG's recruitment magazine onward Robert Morley has only had two articles published in that publication. He was still listed as a contributing editor up to the February 2018 issue but his listing as a contributing editor also disappeared without comment in the March 2018 issue.

This fact may be seen in the following list of his articles since the January 2016 issue. It is clear that since the July 2016 issue he has only been given two articles credited to him. Issues after February 2018 are omitted reflecting the fact that he was no longer listed as a contributing editor at that point.

***

February 2018: No article.

January 2018: No article.

November-December 2017: No article.

October 2017: No article.

September 2017: The Death of Trust.

August 2017: No article.

July 2017: No article.

May 2017: No article.

April 2017: No article.

March 2017: No article.

February 2017: A Building Storm of Debt.

January 2017: No article.

November 2016: No article.

October 2016: No article.

September 2016: No article.

August 2016: No article.

July 2016: Is God a Socialist?

May 2016: Money for Everyone!

April 2016: A World Without Cash

March 2016: Drunk on Debt

February 2016: The Climate Summit Wasn't About Climate

Side article: What Will It Cost to Adopt Clean Energy?

Is the Yuan About to Become a Reserve Currency?

January 2016: Like Father, Like Son?

Side article: Justin Trudaeu's Vision for Canada

***

I do not know why this has happened to Robert Morley. I shall here refrain from speculation except to note that he does not get a byline for PCG's recruitment magazine anymore.

Gerald Flurry Said Jesus Spoke Hebrew, Not Aramaic, as a Vernacular Language (2014)

It is the consensus of historians that the language spoken by Jesus Christ and in the Jewish communities of that time in their everyday lives was Aramaic, not Hebrew.

But PCG's leader, Gerald Flurry, seems to be unaware of this fact. In one article in 2014 he stated that Jesus and the people of those Jewish communities of that time spoke Hebrew, not Aramaic, in the normal course of their lives.

How did this man [Pope Francis] who carefully designed and stage-managed all of his symbolic moves in the Holy Land treat the prime minister of Israel? The Economist on May 28 characterized the pope’s demeanor as “standoffish.” 

“In one of his blander pronouncements during the papal visit, Netanyahu mentioned on Monday that Jesus spoke Hebrew,” [Caroline] Glick wrote. “There was nothing incorrect about Netanyahu’s statement. Jesus was, after all, an Israeli Jew. But Francis couldn’t take the truth, so he indelicately interrupted his host, interjecting, ‘Aramaic!’ Netanyahu was probably flustered. True at the time, educated Jews spoke and wrote in Aramaic, and Jesus was educated, but the language of the people was Hebrew, and Jesus preached to the people in Hebrew. Netanyahu responded, ‘He spoke Aramaic, but He knew Hebrew’” (op. cit.). 

Netanyahu ought to have reacted more strongly. But this is the pope—you just don’t do that to a dictator of his stature! (Gerald Flurry, The Dark Side of the Pope’s Visit to Jerusalem, August 2014.)

It is perfectly reasonable to suppose that those many Jews in those days had some familiarity with Hebrew since it would have used in religious services but in their everyday life they talked in Aramaic, not Hebrew. While Hebrew was still used in religious and scholarly settings nevertheless by Jesus' time the Hebrew language had long ago fallen out of use as a language used in everyday life. This is common knowledge among anyone who inquires about the society in which Jesus Christ lived. 

And yet Gerald Flurry seems to be unaware of this fact. He throws verifiable knowledge out the window in a badly thought out attempt to make Pope Francis look bad. Instead Gerald Flurry shows himself remarkably ill informed about the history of the society in which Jesus lived in.

If Gerald Flurry could let himself be wrong about the language used in everyday life in Jesus' time it is little wonder that he should happen to be wrong about other matters.

Mark Armstrong on the Kavanaugh Controversy

On October 5, 2018, leader of the Intercontinental Church of God, son of Garner Ted Armstrong, grandson of Herbert Armstrong, released yet another of his weekly updates. Let's take a look at what he has to say.

He discusses the recent observance of the Armstrongite Feast of Tabernaces, which is very different from how the Bible describes it or how Jewish communities celebrate it.

Greetings from Tyler, 

We hope you all had a joyful Feast of Tabernacles, wherever you may have been.  We had to cancel our Myrtle Beach site within the last week due to road closures and knocked out power at our facility.  Some were able to come down to Panama City Beach, and others went to Lake Barkley or Branson.  But some may not have been able to relocate, and we hope they were able to salvage the occasion in spite of everything. 

He contrasts the joy of their Armstrongite Feast of Tabernacles with current political developments. Mark Armstrong happens to be staunchly right wing and he constantly denounces anyone left of his preferred president.

There were warm and joyful crowds at each of the other Feast sites, and I know that some were sorry to see it come to a close.  But having returned back, we're more keenly aware of the fragile state of decency and decorum, especially in the highest of chambers and just outside.  Some three hundred were arrested in and around the Capitol just yesterday.  They're screaming at the top of their lungs, scared half to death that their socialist dreams are going up in smoke.

This is not an apt comparison since those who attend the Intercontinental Church of God's Armstrongite version of the Feast of Tabernacles chooses to attend but the United States of America is composed of many different communities and interests which inevitably have disagreements with each other in managing society. Whereas Mark Armstrong leads an organization composed for the most part of people who agree to follow him.

Mark Armstrong scare mongers that some sort of civil war may soon erupt in the United States. He completely blames the left as he is wont to do even though it is mainly right wing individuals who speculate that a civil war may soon occur.

Some are warning that a “civil war,” a real one, is on the brink of breaking out in America.  That's pretty hard to imagine, particularly seeing how reserved and polite the masses seem to be, aside from the university snowflakes and legions of professional activists.  But there's no doubt in the wake of the battle over a single Supreme Court nominee, that the social justice “protesters” have descended to new depths in their accusations and behavior.

He constantly insists that there is some sort of "massive conspiracy" to unseat his preferred president. Even though he is careful not to say it directly nevertheless he implies that the women who has accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct were somehow not telling the truth. He once again expresses his hope that this "massive conspiracy" will one day be exposed and those involved in it will be humiliated in front the entire nation.

It is apparent that the same tactics were deployed against the prospective Justice as were used against President Trump before, during and ever since his electoral victory.  They simply made up, or paid others to make up the most unbelievably disgusting tales imaginable.  The info-garbage was laundered through the CIA (John Brennan), Congress (Harry Reid), the FBI (James Comey) and NSA (James Clapper).  That's nowhere near the end of the list.  Many others in the last administration and in the Department of State also have their fingerprints all over the attempted coup to overthrow the presidency of Donald Trump.  We know many of their names, some of which are very prominent figures in the previous administration.  They'll all achieve fame beyond their wildest imaginations if there's any justice to be had. 

He implies that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was part of this "massive conspiracy" against his preferred president and now, he says, this "massive conspiracy" is directed at Brett Kavanaugh.

And what a coincidence!  Though the information will likely not be recognized by mainstream outlets, several are players attached to the same corrupt agencies and firms that are deeply involved in orchestrating and choreographing the late hit on Judge Kavanaugh.  It turns out that one of the “witnesses” named by Ford was pressured to change her testimony by (former FBI agent) Monica McLean-- which has been reported to the WSJ and to the Judiciary committee, with saved texts as proof.  Ford's attorneys also have curious connections with players involved in the plot to destroy the Trump presidency. 

He rallies his followers to adopt his political stance by insisting that the "massive conspiracy" against his preferred president somehow threatens American sovereignty. He also once again dismiss the severe problem of climate change and dismisses it as a plot to weaken American power.

Regardless of tomorrow's outcome, the battle will rage on in ways that will shock us all.  At stake is the whole “globalist” plan.  It's not just the sacraments of the left, a woman's “right to choose,” queer matrimony, global warming and open borders.  It's the whole prospect of American sovereignty which was being erased by a series of administrations, federal agencies and many in Congress.  Some of the players in the background are foreign actors and entities, whose power would be increased exponentially if U. S. sovereignty could be suborned to international courts, the UN and the international arbiters of “global warming.” 

He once again vilifies the political left as he so often does.

The stakes are so high now that the socialists have discarded their masks, with the exception of Antifa.  That bunch of rag-tag domestic terrorists will continue to commit crimes while concealing their own identities.  They are loud, proud and there are seemingly no depths below which they won't stoop.

He descends into the darkness of promoting baseless conspiracy theories by shamefully implying that Seth Rich was somehow murdered for political reasons. There is no evidence to support that outlandish claim.

Remember what happened to Steve Scalise?  That fate and worse could easily have befallen a great many members of the House.  And why has there never been any progress toward solving the murder of Seth Rich?  Those are only a couple of well-known names, but there are others that if the mainstream media has its way, will never enter public consciousness.

Mark Armstrong somehow ignores the problem of political violence committed by right wing extremists. Somehow that terrible problem is not worth mentioning here.

He then complains that accusations will follow those accused for life. The possibility that such accusations just might be true is somehow completely ignored.

The more outrageous the accusations against anyone that might promote the Trump agenda from any office of power, the more the mainstream media loves to repeat them endlessly.  The damage is not temporary or limited.  It has become part of the public record that will follow the accused, and those who love and respect them to the end of their days.  Regardless of the final outcome of any investigation, the slander has already done permanent damage.  Judge Kavanaugh will no more be able to extricate his name from the accusations oft repeated by national outlets than was Justice Thomas.  Now, thanks to the media's lust for the most shocking of tales against anyone perceived as leaning conservative, the accusations are permanently attached. 

He ends his missive by denouncing lies and bearing tales thus implying that those he oppose on political matters are guilty of such things.

One of the things listed among those that God hates, is a lying tongue.  This premise is spelled out in the new monthly letter which you'll soon receive.  The Bible also has plenty to say about the “talebearer,” in Leviticus and more-so in the Proverbs.  It indicates that dredging up tales creates useless strife.  Put that together with breaking the Commandment against bearing FALSE witness and you see exactly what we have.  A nation on the brink.  We can take heart in the Proverb (26:27) regarding he who “digs a pit” or “rolls a stone.”  God will not be mocked.  Let's hope the professional agitators don't tear this country apart with their violent, insane tactics in the days or weeks ahead.  Thank God for the unexpected miracle that has given America one last opportunity to revive.

Mark

And so once again Mark Armstrong has shared his political opinions in his weekly update to his tithe paying flock.