End-Time Spiritual Apostasy –
Where the Church Went Astray!
What
went wrong with the Worldwide Church of God?
Why all the amazing,
incredible doctrinal changes on the
one hand, making the Church
more acceptable to the main-
stream "Christian"
world, and the rejection of proven new
truth on the other hand? Here
is a step by step analysis
of the
most incredible story of our age!
William
F. Dankenbring
Jeremiah prophesied of the flagrant End-Time rebellion that would occur
within the very
Thousands today put their trust in "Church authority." They
believe smugly that their church is "the ONLY
Jeremiah prophesied that people would make that very boast, during the
End Time! He wrote: "This is what the LORD Almighty , the God of Israel,
says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place.
Do not trust in deceptive words and say, 'This is the temple of the Lord, the
temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord! ' If you REALL Y change your ways
and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the
alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this
place, and if you do not follow other gods, to your own harm, then I will let
you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever.
But look, you are TRUSTING IN DECEPTIVE WORDS that are worthless"
(Jer.7:3-8).
People who have the attitude, "This is the
The apostle Paul gave us a similar warning. He declared, "Now the
Spirit clearly says that in later times some will ABANDON the faith and follow
deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through
HYPOCRITICAL LIARS, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot
irons" (I Tim. 4: 1-2). The Greek word for liars or lies, as used in this
verse, is pseudologos -- and this is the only place it is used in the
New Testament The usual word for "lies" is pseudos. But this
is talking about "lying words," or speech in the context of hypocrisy
-- something which conveys the subtlety of very cunning lies and deceptions,
something beyond just normal run-of-the-mill "lies."
These "lies" are carefully thought out and arranged and
orchestrated clever DECEPTIONS, which seem close to the truth, and may even
appear true, at first glance, or to the superficial observer. But these
"lies" are Satan's subtle misinformation, his clever alterations, and
cunning hiding of the truth under a covering that SEEMS right on the surface.
It may even SOUND like the truth --but is not! Something is not quite correct
--something is very cleverly altered, to deceive and delude people! To trust in
such lies leads to DEATH!
In other words, Satan gives the truth a little “spin.” He “shades” the
truth ever so slightly, to alter the meaning and emphasis. The lies that are
hardest to detect are those that are slight twists or variations on the truth.
So slight that they may still sound like the truth, and may seem virtually
indistinguishable from it! But they are COUNTERFEITS of the real truth, and
lead people into apostasy and spiritual error! Satan knows that by injecting
little" shadings" of the truth, he can eventually change entire
doctrines and major beliefs, in time --he can inject sufficient error to cause
God to frown upon His erring people, and have to punish them. Satan knows that
blatant lies would be rejected by most people, so he is very assiduous and
subtle in his approach!
To assume that you are protected from Satan's deceptions just because
you are a physical P ART of the Church, is a dangerous assumption! Adam and Eve
may have assumed that they were in no danger, because they were right in
God
says of His End Time Church, "The shepherds are senseless and do not
inquire of the LORD; so they do not prosper and a11 their flock is
SCATTERED" (Jer.l0:21).
What Is Your Real Attitude?
But part of the problem of the End Time Church of God is the attitude
of the PEOPLE. They themselves have strayed from the straight and narrow path,
and have compromised their faith and diligence in serving God. They don't want
to hear stem, hard truth; they prefer pleasantries, novelties, and philosophy.
God warns, "GO now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a
scroll, that in the days to come it may be an everlasting witness. These are
rebellious people, DECEITFUL children, children unwilling to listen to the
Lord's instruction. They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the
prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us PLEASANT things,
prophesy ILLUSIONS. Leave this way, get off this path [quit correcting us and
rebuking us, we don't like it!], and stop confronting us with the Holy One of
Israel!'" (Isa.30:8-11).
Because of this lackadaisical attitude of nonchalance about spiritual
things, God says, "Because you have rejected this message, relied on
oppression, and depended on deceit, this sin will become for you like a high
wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will
break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces
not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water
out of a cistern"(verses 12-13).
Amos also rebukes the End- Time Church of God people for their
tremendous complacency. The prophet thunders, "WOE to you who are
COMPLACENT in
Those
Who "Put Off" The Evil Day
Just as is happening in the End Time Churches of God, today, Amos
prophesied, "YOU PUT OFF the evil day and bring near a reign of TERROR.
You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches ["lounge
lizards"]. You dine on choice Iambs and fattened calves. You strum away on
your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. You drink wine by
the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of
Joseph [the sick economy, the ravished land, the gang violence, the injustice
and collapse]. Therefore you will be along the FIRST to go into exile, your
feasting and lounging will end" (Amos 6:3-7).
The “mother” whom thousands put their trust in --the Church of God
--will be punished and destroyed, God says, for it is no longer truly His
Church because of its sins and compromises with the truth and perversions of
true doctrine. The prophet Hosea writes, "YOU stumble day and night and
the prophets STUMBLE with you. So I will DESTROY YOUR MOTHER [the Church, which
is the "mother of us all" --Gal.4:26] -- my people are DESTROYED from
lack of knowledge. Because you have REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I also reject you as my
priests ["ministers"]; because you have ignored the LAW of your God,
I also will ignore your children. The more the priests increased [the more the
End Time Churches of God grew and increased in numbers and size], the MORE THEY
SINNED AGAINST ME," God warns; "they exchanged their Glory for somethting
disgraceful. The feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness. And
it will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their
ways and repay them for their deeds. They will eat but not have enough; they
will engage in PROSTITUTION [whoring with the civil governments of the world,
the world's educational accreditation committees, and committing spiritual
“incest” with the world's churches!] but not increase [their growth and income
will suffer], because they have deserted the LORD to give themselves to
PROSTITUTION, to old wine [old pagan erroneous doctrines] and new [bizarre new
interpretations], which take away the UNDERSTANDING of my people. ...A
spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God"
(Hos.4:7-12).
God Himself is soon going to punish His End Time Church with furious
rebukes and stern plagues -- a spiritual whipping like the Church has never
before received. He will do this because of the serious corruption that exists.
in high places in EVERY REMNANT CHURCH OF GOD IN EXISTENCE! This warning
applies directly to the Worldwide Church of God, The Church of God
International, the Philadelphia Church of God,
Jesus Himself rebukes this End Time Church of God, calling it the
"Laodicean Church" generation and age --the FINAL prophesied Church
era to appear in the world, shortly before His second coming! He declared:
"To the angel of the Church in
Notice! This account describes the vast, whole, ENTIRE REMNANT CHURCH
OF GOD! It is the LAST GENERATION! It is spiritually blind and naked, but
thinks it is rich and very spiritual, proud of its supposed
"knowledge," but really pitiful in God's sight It is so far removed
from the ways and true paths of God, that Christ is not even INSIDE this
"Church" --He is pictured as standing OUTSIDE "looking in"
-- KNOCKING ON THE DOOR, hoping that someone, at least a "few," may
open the door and let him into their own individual homes!
The
Thus the Laodicean End-Time Church of God is in VERY BAD SPIRITUAL
SHAPE! Jeremiah describes this Church generation, saying, "Concerning the
prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones tremble. I am like a
drunken man, like a man overcome by wine, because of the LORD and his holy
words. The land is full of adulterers. The prophets follow an EVIL COURSE and use
their power unjustly. Both prophet and priest are godless; EVEN IN MY
TEMPLE [even in God's CHURCH, the "Temple of God" -- Eph.2:20] I find
their wickedness,' declares the Lord. Therefore their path will become
slippery; they will be banished to darkness and there they will fall. I will
bring disaster on them in the year they are punished,' declares the Lord.
'Among the prophets of Samaria [the United States, where most of the End Time
Churches of God are head-quartered!] I saw this repulsive thing: They
prophesied by BAAL and led my people Israel astray" (Jer.23:9-13).
Church
"Authority" Becomes Church "Tyranny"!
Abuse of power is one of the common characteristics of End Time
ministers of the Laodicean churches of God. Immediate suspension from Church,
or even disfellowshipment, at the drop of a hat, seems to be the rule rather
than the exception in Worldwide, Philadelphia, Living, United, Continental and
International Churches of God. They are all in the same boat, except for the
"fine print" Their similarities far out-weigh their differences -- especially
in the area of Church Government! They have all virtually become, to one degree
or another, the "Synagogue [Church assembly] of SATAN" (see Rev.3:9).
That is why God literally calls His true people OUT of these apostatizing,
sinning, deceptive, wicked congregations and assemblies!
Initially, when Herbert Armstrong began serving God, he did not found a Church but rather an evangelical work. As it grew, and members were baptized, he called it the "Radio Church of God." In those days he acknowledged that the Church of God, Seventh Day, and others, were also parts of the body of Christ
But after the Church grew big, and powerful, individuals began
referring to the “work” as “the Church.” By the late '50s and early '60s
Herbert Armstrong himself began denying the fact that others could also be part
of the body of Christ, and began calling virtually all other groups
“counterfeits.” This trend continued and grew more flagrant, as the Church
increased in power, income, and membership.
There is a mortal danger in any organizational structure, whether
ecclesiastical or secular. As growth continues, management systems are brought
in, and faith and inspiration become overlooked and neglected. Systems replace
faith; numbers crunching replaces inspiration. Human logic and reason and
planning take the place of looking to Christ and expecting miracles to do the
Work! Specially designed "co-worker letters" are sent to people to
maximize the monetary returns --taking advantage of widows, older people, and
those who are ignorant of the methods of modern evangelism!
The organizational trap swallowed the Worldwide Church of God, and a hierarchical structure developed, with the ministerial elite on one level and the plebian masses of Church members down at the bottom. Soon ministers were expected to always be called “Mr.” and never addressed by their fIrst name! The examples and instruction of Christ and the early Church were completely ignored and bypassed.
Jesus Christ said, "The kings of the Gentiles LORD IT OVER THEM;
and those who exercise AUTHORITY over them call themselves Benefactors. But you
are not to be like that Instead, the greatest among you should be like the
youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is
greater" the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the
one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves" (Luke
22:25-27).
As hierarchies develop, brethren begin looking to the lofty ministers
as their spiritual guides and masters, and not to Christ! The ministry becomes
an inflated, self-serving, ego trip! Humility is swallowed up in pride and
pride leads to arrogance!
Herbert Armstrong incorporated the Radio Church of God in 1948. One 19 year time cycle, later, Lorna D. Armstrong died --in 1967. One 19 time cycle later, Herbert W. Armstrong died -- in January, 1986! These numbers illustrate the fact that God was working with the Church of God, during this time, even though mistakes were made by the human leaders. Perhaps the greatest single mistake made by Herbert Armstrong was the establishment of a governmental system of hierarchical superiority --the so-called "pyramid" structure --which is nowhere taught or commanded in the Scriptures. Rather, as Herbert Armstrong himself wrote in a 1939 article on Church Government, the pyramid structure of Government comes straight out of BABYLON and is P AGAN to the core! But as the Church grew, he felt the need to establish lines of authority, and began ordaining various "levels" of ministers thinking he was following God's way, not realizing that ministerial "gifts" are NOT "ranks," but divinely distributed GIFTS of the Spirit of God (I Cor.12:1-11). GOD is the one who appoints spiritual offices --not men! (I Cor.12:27-31 ; Eph.4:9-13).
By establishing a ministerial hierarchy, Herbert Armstrong was falling into the trap of Satan the devil, and setting up a GENTILE form of Church Government, the very thing Jesus Christ warned against and condemned (Matt.20:24-28; 23:8-12). He thereby created and injected the seeds of the Church's eventual destruction and take-over by Satan the devil!
As the organization grew, so did the infiltration of Satan's agents and influences --his secret "tares" to do his bidding and work (II Pet2:1-3; Jude 3-4). They looked "good" on the outside, and dressed snappily, and acted like loyal, obedient servants, and so Herbert Armstrong was deluded, misled, and deceived, and ordained WICKED MEN to high offices. He himself admitted at times that he was a very poor judge of character. That is why, less than one year before his death, Herbert Armstrong wrote in the June 24, 1985 Worldwide News, at the conclusion of an article entitled "Recent History of the Philadelphia Era of the Worldwide Church of God" the following words:
"A final personal word In a few days I will be 93 years of age. For some
years now, there have been some, like vultures, waiting for me to die. They
would like to come back and take over the leadership of the Church in my stead
I have been deeply concerned about this, but in no sense worried This is the
Church of God, not of any man. Jesus Christ is the living Head of this Church.
I am not. . . .
"When I have, even rarely, mentioned my concern in this category, the response
of members has always been the belief that God will keep me alive. I hope that
He will, and I do try to take every care of my health and physical condition, but
whether God keeps me alive 10 more years, or only 10 more minutes is entirely
in God's hands. Brethren, put your faith in Christ and the living God and not in
me. If Christ should remove me, He will direct
the Advisory Council of Elders;
to select one of them to continue leading you until the coming of Jesus Christ in
power and in glory. Pray that God will keep YOU in His Church until He replaces
this evil world and brings the wonderful, peaceful and blessed Kingdom of God."
Herbert Armstrong wrote
this in June 1985 -- just six and one half months before his death! Strange,
isn't it, that only a few days before his final death, or there-abouts, a
mysterious "letter" appeared,
supposedly "signed" by Herbert Armstrong, ostensibly empowering one
Joseph W. Tkach, a relative neophyte and uneducated non-lsraelites, to take
over the reins of the Church! Strange, isn't it, that Herbert Armstrong AT NO
TIME gave verbal, powerful, unconditional and clear instructions to the Council
of Elders, to select Tkach, and NEVER made the announcement verbally, himself!
Did Satan the devil pull off a master-stroke at the death and passing
of Herbert Armstrong? Was the "passing of the baton" a notorious,
nefarious FRAUD? Was Herbert Armstrong, while on his death bed, surrounded by
only a few "trusted" aides, deceived, and taken advantage of'! The
horrendous possibilities are mind-boggling! Are we so naive?
Herbert Armstrong fully intended for the Council of Elders to select
his successor, knowing full well his own limitations and weaknesses. Why then,
are we supposed to believe that he suddenly "changed his mind" while
on his death bed?
There is an interesting prophecy in Isaiah, where God says: "Hear,
you deaf; look, you blind, and see! Who is blind, but my servant, and deaf like
the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the
servant of the LORD?" (lsa.42:18-19). In his old age, Herbert Armstrong
was partially deaf and partially blind. This is a prophecy referring to him! He
made many mistakes, yet he was a servant of God.
I don't think Herbert Armstrong saw, grasped, or was fully aware of the
DANGER he was in, as he lay on his death-bed, and no clear decision having been
made as to his successor! Books have been written pinpointing the evidence that
Pope John Paul was actually MURDERED in the Vatican by a conspiracy of
high-ranking cardinals, to perpetuate their own authority and doctrines. Other
books have recently been written suggesting powerfully that John F. Kennedy was
actually ASSASSINATED in Dallas, Texas, in 1963, in a CIA-FBI conspiracy,
perhaps engineered by Lyndon Baines Johnson, his "successor," who was
not going to be his running mate when Kennedy ran for re-election. Was Herbert
Armstrong also the victim of a cabal, a sinister PLOT of Satan the devil, to
take over the Church?
The
Church After Herbert Armstrong
Since his death in 1986, the Worldwide Church of God has suddenly
veered off into doctrinal heresies and distortions, reconciling doctrines with
Protestantism, and seeking to find favor in Satan's world! The Church has
VEERED OFF THE TRACKS and plunged into error and wickedness --a full-blown
Laodicean condition which Jesus Christ condemns!
Now we are living in the FULL-BLOWN LAODICEAN ERA of the End Time
Churches of GOD! Prophecy has been relegated to the dust bin; Herbert
Armstrong's booklets are all in the process of being "revised " and
"rewritten. " His book Mystery of the Ages has been thrown out
on the trash heap. The identity of the lost ten tribes of Israel is no longer
taught or believed by the Church leadership! Joseph Tkach then began to claim
that he is "BORN AGAIN!" and so is every believer. He claimed the
Kingdom of God is already here, now, in the Church -- something Herbert
Armstrong NEVER taught! He claimed the purpose of human life is NOT to become
"God" as "God is God," and that Jesus Christ was never
REALLY HUMAN at all! Where will the diabolical Satanic heresies END?
What should MEMBERS of such a
Church do about their affiliation? And what about members of the other
apostate, Laodicean churches, whether on the right or left "wing"?
The Oppression
and Slavery of Gods People
Isaiah the prophet thunders, " A W AKE, awake; put on thy strength
[the whole armor of God --Ephesians 6:10], O Zion; put on thy beautiful
garments" --the robes of righteousness (Isaiah 52:1, Rev.19:10-12).
"Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken
away for nought? they that rule over them [their shepherds or
"ministers"1 MAKE THEM TO HOWL . .. saith the Lord; and my
name continually every day is blasphemed" (verse 5). They blaspheme
God's name by their practices, their filthy deeds, their disfellowshipment
procedures, their false doctrines, their calling God's TRUE servants and
prophets "false prophets," "Satan-inspired," and other
epithets. They blaspheme God by their every action and word, every day, as they
abuse, beat, and browbeat the sheep under their control.
The prophet Ezekiel wrote, "The word of the LORD came to me: 'Son
of man, prophesy against the SHEPHERDS of Israel; prophesy and say to them:
"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: WOE to the shepherds of Israel who
only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You
eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice
animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the
weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the
strays or searched for the lost You have RULED THEM HARSHLY AND BRUTALLY. So
they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered
they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the
mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and
no one searched or looked for them" {Ezek.34: 1-6).
God thunders, "I am against the shepherds and will hold them
accountable for my flock. I will REMOVE them from tending the flock so that the
shepherds can no longer feed themselves; I will RESCUE my flock from their
mouths, and it will no longer be food for them" (verse 10).
God Himself will also judge between the sheep, individual Church
members who have conflicts and who mistreat each other. He says, " As for
you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one
sheep and another, and between rams and goats. ...See, I myself will judge
between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and
shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them
away, I will save my flock, and they will no longer be PLUNDERED"
{Ezek.34:17-22).
Almighty God, and Jesus Christ, both have a severe "bone to pick"
with the End Time Church of God generation --the people of God today. God says
to His flock, His people, who have strayed into the paths of sin and Laodicean
compromise and error: "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to
save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your INIQUITIES have separated you from
your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt Your lips have
spoken LIES, and your tongue uttered wicked things. N o one calls for justice;
no one pleads his case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments and speak
lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil. They hatch the eggs of
vipers and spin a spider's web [the name "Tkach" literally means
"to spin a web"!]. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is
broken, an adder is hatched.
"Their COBWEBS are useless for clothing [rendering people
"naked" spiritually!]; they cannot cover themselves with what they
make. Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands.
Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood [to
disfellowship so-called "dissidents"!]. Their thoughts are evil
thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know;
there is no justice in their paths [they "cover up" the sins of the
ministry , and refuse to judge individual cases with righteousness, but always
support the "minister," right or wrong!]. They have turned them into
CROOKED ROADS; no one who walks in them will know peace" (lsa.59: 1-8).
This is a very serious rebuke and stem correction. This is a
description of the End Time Laodicean Church, with all its "glory"
and wickedness! The oppressed sheep of this Church cry out, "So justice is
far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is
darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. LIKE THE BLIND" --
Laodiceans are "BLIND," remember -- "we grope along the wall,
feeling our way like MEN WITHOUT EYES. At midday we stumble as if it were
twilight; among the strong, we are like the DEAD. We all growl like bears; we
moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice, but find one; for deliverance,
but it is far away" (lsa.59:9-11).
In the middle of Great Tribulation, many of the people of this remnant
Church will finally cry out to God, confessing their sins and wickedness. They
will pray, and say, "For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins
testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our
iniquities, rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our
God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; TRUTH has
stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. TRUTH is nowhere to be found,
and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey" (lsa.59:12-15).
In their distress they will finally call on God, in deep remorse and
repentence for their sins, and God will forgive them, and wipe away their
iniquities. He will deliver them from the Great Tribulation, those who remain
alive, and Christ Himself will rescue them (verses 16-18). "From the west,
men will fear the name of the WRD, and from the rising of the sun, they
will REVERE his glory .For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of
the LORD drives along. The Redeemer will come to Zion [the remnant
Church in captivity], to those in Jacob who REPENT of their sins"
(lsa.59:19-20).
What
about you? Will you repent now? Or will
you have to experience the pangs of bitter travail and Great Tribulation to
bring you to your senses?
God has called prophets and watchmen to WARN His erring, sinning,
straying people to RETURN to HIM, before it is too late! That cry and warning is
going out! God thunders, " Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your
voice LIKE A TRUMPET. Declare to my people their REBELLION and to the house of
Jacob their SINS" (lsa.58:1).
God tells His people, "1 have posted WATCHMEN on your walls, O
Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night You who call on the WRD, give
yourselves NO REST, and give Him no rest, till He establishes Jerusalem and
makes her the praise of the earth" (lsa.62:6-7).