How Herbert W. Armstrong Used 1972 to Finance His Building Projects

Nothing Herbert W. Armstrong ever did elicited more excuse-making, from Armstrong himself, from his lackeys, and from his successors in our day, than his prediction that the Great Tribulation would begin on January, 1972, that the Worldwide Church of God would cease its work on that date, that the members would flee to the place of safety, and that Jesus Christ would return to this earth three and one half years later to set up his kingdom.

Armstrong's theory was that the original Christian church had one 19 year time cycle, from 34 AD to 53 AD, to preach the gospel to the Jews, followed by a second 19 year time cycle in which the gospel was preached to the gentiles. After the second 19 year time cycle, the Christian movement was to be hijacked by the Babylonian Mystery Religion. The true church was supplanted by a great false church, and the true gospel was not preached until God raised up Herbert W. Armstrong for that purpose.

For 100 19 year time cycles, the true gospel would not go out to the world. But in 1934, Herbert W. Armstrong began the World Tomorrow radio broadcast, and for the first time since the first century, the true gospel was preached. The first radio broadcast fell on January, 1934, and within 19 years the World Tomorrow program was heard on radio stations all across North America.

Exactly 19 years after the very first broadcast, the World Tomorrow program was broadcast on the most powerful station in all of Europe, Radio Luxembourg, on January, 1953. That left but 19 years in which to preach the gospel to all the world. That 19-year time cycle would end January, 1972, the great work of preaching the true gospel would be cut off, the church would flee to the wilderness, and the Great Tribulation would begin.

When January, 1972 came and went, Armstrong denied that he ever made such a prediction. He said he merely mentioned it as a possibility, but his over-eager followers took this to be divine truth and unwisely built their lives around the 1972 departure date, in spite of his repeated warnings of how dangerous it was to set dates.

As is usual when it comes to Herbert Armstrong, an examination of the historical record proves otherwise. Presented below are excerpts from co-worker letters and magazine articles written by Armstrong in which he uses the 1972 date to extort ever-greater financial sacrifices from the membership, even urging the widows to hand over their mites.. Time was short, he said. There was only so much time in which to complete the work of preaching the gospel to the whole world. He could not accomplish the work in the allotted time unless his followers gave more money. He could not build the facilities needed to complete the work in the time remaining unless they gave, in addition to their normal tithes and offerings, donations to the building fund.

The capitalization's in the excerpts that follow are Armstrong's. I have highlighted certain sections in bold type. My comments appear in brackets [ ], in blue type.

…World War 3 brings with it THE GREAT TRIBULATION. That is now next in order. But Jesus, in foretelling this chain of world events, said the GREAT TRIBULATION would be preceded by the world-wide proclaiming of HIS Gospel. "The GOSPEL must first be published among all nations," said Jesus (Mark 13:10), or, as recorded by Matthew (24:14): "This Gospel OF THE KINGDOM shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto ALL NATIONS; and THEN shall the END (of the world) come…."

Listen now to an ASTOUNDING fact! God has set TIME running in cycles of 19 years. Just once every 19 years the days, divided by the sun; the months, divided by the new moons; and the years, divided by the revolution of the earth around the sun, all come into exact conjunction. Thus God's NATURE runs in 19-year cycles. That is important. Now see what has happened.

It took just ONE COMPLETE CYCLE of 19 years for this work to grow from nothing until it carried the very Gospel of Jesus all over the North American continent in mighty POWER! That 19-year cycle ended, and the second 19-year cycle began, during the first quarter of this present year, 1953!

The very start of the second 19-year cycle marked the beginning of proclaiming this Gospel to ALL EUROPE and THE BRITISH ISLES! It must still go to Asia, Africa, South America, and Australia. WHEN it has spanned the world, THEN the END OF THE WORLD shall come! The disciples asked Jesus WHEN this world would end, and His second coming occur. He said THIS Gospel shall go around the world, and THEN shall the end come!…

[After several paragraphs of convoluted explanation, Armstrong reaches the following conclusion:]

The invasion of the United States with HYDROGEN-bombs that shall destroy our cities, therefore, must BEGIN at least 10 1/2 years PRIOR to the ending of the Times of the Gentiles! IF THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES END IN 1982, in October, as Mr. Hoeh has it figured, THE INVASION OF AMERICA AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION MUST BEGIN NOT LATER THAT MARCH-APRIL, 1972!

It could begin sooner. This date is hypothetical, not definite. But apparently it cannot begin LATER than that date. One chronology sets this disaster TEN YEARS from now! But March- April, 1972 is the LATEST POSSIBLE DATE. [Here it is. Herbert Armstrong was not equivocal. He said that March- April 1972 was the latest possible date. Armstrong allowed for the possibility that the end of the age could happen sooner, but he didn't allow for a later occurrence.]

NOW SEE WHAT THAT MEANS! That date is exactly 19 years from March-April this year, 1953! It is exactly 19 years -- ONE COMPLETE CYCLE -- from the time the FIRST cycle of this great work of God ended!

WHAT A TREMENDOUS SIGNIFICANCE THAT HAS! Think of it! God allowed us one exact complete cycle of 19 years for proclaiming CHRIST'S GOSPEL to all North America -- all the United States, Canada, and Mexico! At the START of the second 19-year cycle, GOD OPENED THE DOOR to ALL EUROPE! And the MILITARY INVASION that shall END all true Gospel preaching is apparently to strike at the precise END of this second 19-year period -- the spring of 1972 -- EXACTLY 19 YEARS FROM NOW!…

TIME IS SHORT! We need to WAKE UP! God has opened the door -- given us the use of the most powerful instrumentalities ever invented for COMMUNICATING His Message to the world! We are small, few in number, having but little strength of our own. Yet GOD is doing a mighty, and a great, and a POWERFUL work thru us!

[Now begins what is to become all too familiar in Armstrong's letters to his "co-workers." First, he explains how little time is left to preach the gospel to the world, how urgent it is to step up the effort to get the gospel out. Then he chastises his followers for letting down on their donations, and urges them to make greater sacrifices. But he doesn't ask for those sacrifices to preach the gospel. He asks because he needs to complete a building project.]

And yet, many of us seem to LET DOWN, and grow slack in supporting this great and glorious work. ONCE AGAIN THE RECEIPT OF MONEY IS FALLING OFF! Once again, the situation seems ALARMING! I need your immediate and MOST GENEROUS RESPONSE! Do you know WHY it is such a difficult financial struggle to conduct God's work? It is because THOUSANDS of you Co-Workers who may be poor financially, and have but a little, get to thinking that your little -- perhaps only a dollar or two -- would not be big enough to help. It is BECAUSE so many of you who can't send more are failing to send in your widow's mites that this glorious work of God often faces a crisis. Of course that makes it all the more necessary for those of you who CAN to send in large offerings -- $50, or $100, or $1,000 or more. It is the FAITHFUL TITHE-payers among you, and those who send in generous amounts when you are able, that keeps tiding this work over.

THE TABERNACLE: God commanded us to FEED HIS SHEEP, as well as to proclaim His Gospel to the world. It is NECESSARY that we have a place to assemble and OBEY GOD by keeping His appointed festivals. And there are SO MANY who do attend these festivals we are having to build a tabernacle that will seat 1300 people.… GOD has shown us how to do this -- to build solidly and well, yet CHEAPLY! Yet this morning the total amount of money received for building it was $2, and this afternoon $1 -- $3 for the whole day. I think there was about $7 yesterday! CO-WORKERS, WE CAN'T FINISH THE TABERNACLE UNLESS YOU GET BEHIND THIS, AND KEEP BEHIND IT!

Not one thing has been done to it since the Spring Festival there the last of March and early April. CO-WORKERS, FROM HERE ON I WILL NOT APPLY ANY REGULAR MONEY FOR THE GOSPEL WORK TOWARD FINISHING THAT TABERNACLE!

I have to tell you that I am terribly disappointed and discouraged with the way most of you Co-Workers have almost totally dropped the special offerings for the Tabernacle. IT BEGINS TO LOOK LIKE WE CAN'T HOLD THE FESTIVAL OF TABERNACLES THERE, AFTER ALL! Co-Workers DO YOU WANT TO JUST STOP WHERE WE ARE, AND MAKE OURSELVES THE LAUGHING-STOCK OF ALL TEXAS? I feel ashamed, and terribly discouraged. This Tabernacle is necessary for GOD'S PROGRAM -- in order that we may OBEY GOD and attend His festivals. I wrote you before how they built a Tabernacle in Moses' day, and the children of Israel sent in so much Moses had to send out a proclamation to restrain them from sending more. Are we going to let the people of that day put us to shame? I know that some of you CAN send in special offerings of $1,000 or perhaps $3,000 or more. I know that MANY of you can, if your hearts are willing, send in special offerings of $30, or $100 for the Tabernacle. NOW LET'S STIR OURSELVES AND GET BEHIND IT!…

The entire work is in dire need. SEND IN YOUR WIDOWS' MITES, all you who are unable to send more. DON'T think it won't help -- when there are enough of them, these small amounts COUNT UP. The only thing wrong with those three single dollars that came in today for the Tabernacle fund is that THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH OF THEM. GOD'S WORK IS WAITING ON YOU! It is the ONE world event prophesied for NOW! Every dollar in the Gospel work takes the MESSAGE OF JESUS TO MORE THAN 2,000 people! Yes, thru the door GOD HAS OPENED TO US! This is GOD'S work. Let each of you do his own part to his utmost. God does not expect anyone to do what he is unable to do -- but He DOES expect each of us to do what we CAN. God bless you all, I know you'll leap to the rescue, and send in immediately the largest sum you can.

HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
Analyses Today's News, with the
Prophesies of The WORLD TOMORROW

…Jesus' own apostles proclaimed this same GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD thru Palestine and Asia Minor. That took one 19-year cycle. GOD'S TIME RUNS IN 19-YEAR CYCLES! Then, after the first 19-year cycle, in 50 A.D., a door was opened for the Apostle Paul to preach the same Gospel in EUROPE. And all organized work of preaching it was finally stopped in 69 A.D. -- after one more 19-year cycle -- when the Roman armies advanced toward Jerusalem, and the disciples all fled, as Jesus commanded in Mat. 24:15-16 and Luke 21:20-21. The organized powers of government from Rome stopped the organized proclaiming of JESUS' MESSAGE from that point. Soon the Gentile pagans, infiltrating into the churches and outnumbering the really converted saints, persecuting them and driving them out of the organized assemblies, introduced new pagan doctrines and customs. The Gospel Jesus had proclaimed was snuffed out. A counterfeit Gospel ABOUT the PERSON of Jesus was substituted.

And now, 18 1/2 centuries later, God OPENED THE DOOR of radio and the printing press in January, 1934, in order that the very same original Gospel might once again go out AS A WITNESS TO ALL NATIONS. After exactly one 19-year cycle, in January this present year, 1953, GOD OPENED THE DOOR for us to take His gospel once again to ALL EUROPE!

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? It means we are already, now, in the very last 19-year cycle of time left for THIS PRESENT WORLD! [Armstrong changes his scenario somewhat. The second 19-year time cycle began in January, just as the first. January, 1972 is 19 years from January, 1953.] It means THE WAY IS BEING PREPARED for the second COMING OF JESUS CHRIST! It means that YOU and YOUR FAMILY have only a very few more years to live IN THIS WORLD -- of THIS LIFE. It means that NOTHING else really counts now -- NOTHING else is important to you and your future -- except to permit GOD to change your life -- to use your life -- and especially in the work of getting this precious last warning Message out to the REST of this dying world!…

CO-WORKERS, Listen! In the face of this economic slacking off, GOD'S WORK, thru GOD'S POWER, cannot quit, or even slow down -- it cannot even stand still -- IT MUST, AND IN FACT IT ACTUALLY IS LEAPING ON AHEAD IN THE MIGHTIEST SURGE OF POWER OF ANY PROGRAM ON EARTH TODAY!

This is the doing of ALMIGHTY GOD! God's Message MUST GO! God has decreed it, and opened the door wide! But it costs more and more money -- and in the face of economic readjustment, IT MEANS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU MUST TAKE THIS TO HEART AS NEVER BEFORE -- we must now tighten our financial belts, sacrifice pleasures and personal desires, and even at cost of going without some things we have planned, SEND IN MORE MONEY FOR THE WORK OF GOD!

NEVER before were the one and two-dollar offerings of those who do not have larger amounts, so badly needed. Those of you who have thought the little you had would not be enough to help -- SEND WHAT GOD HAS MADE POSSIBLE, little or big. Little amounts count up. Those of you who have not sent anything for God's cause recently, send what YOU can -- that will be an INCREASE which God's work needs. Those of you who have been sending small amounts regularly -- can't you send a little more by sacrificing something else? Those who have sent in regular tithes -- God commands us to give offerings ALSO -- and GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER! Can't YOU send in LARGER amounts? It is only by ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER, each according as God has prospered and made possible -- some with a few hundred or a few thousand dollars, some who don't have so much, even the widow's mites -- but ALL TOGETHER, each doing his BEST -- it is only thru this combined work of ALL that God's work can now KEEP FORGING ON AHEAD, as God Himself opens the way before us! *** NOTHING ELSE COUNTS TODAY! We must AROUSE ourselves, and rally to this great need!

GREETINGS, in Jesus' name. Here we are, in 1958! Time is running out on us. Apparently, as we have said before, God is giving us two 19-year cycles to finish HIS WORK which HE has assigned to His Church to do. He first opened the mighty door of radio and the printing press for mass-evangelization of the whole world with HIS GOSPEL the first week in January, 1934.

In the first 19-year cycle, God continued to open that tremendous door wider and wider, until "this GOSPEL of the Kingdom" (Mat. 24:14) was being heard in every state in the U.S.

Then, the first week in January, 1953 -- exactly 19 years to the very week -- God OPENED THE DOOR to shout His Gospel to Europe and the British Isles. In like manner, God commissioned the apostolic Church one 19-year cycle to proclaim Christ's Gospel over the land in which it started -- in Asia -- beginning 31 A.D. Then, after one 19-year cycle, in 50 A.D., God OPENED THE DOOR for the Apostle Paul to carry the same Gospel INTO EUROPE (II Cor.2:12-13 with Acts 16:9). And in the year 69 A.D., after a second 19-year cycle, the organized evangelizing of the world by God's Church was broken off….

But brethren in God's Church today, here is the IMPORTANT thing to shake us out of our lethargy and WAKE US UP! If it is true that God has allotted to us, as He did to the church 19 centuries ago, just TWO 19-year time cycles to complete His work, FIVE OF OUR LAST 19 YEARS HAVE ALREADY SPED BY! Only 14 more short years remain! [Fourteen years from January 1958 is, you guessed it!, January 1972.] We have now passed the 24th anniversary of the MASS EVANGELISM CAMPAIGN OF THE CHURCH!…

Also WORK MUST BEGIN ON THE TABERNACLE AT GLADEWATER, TEXAS, THIS MONTH! Architect's drawings are now about complete. The construction company must start work immediately. They want to put it up at once, during their off-season. We get a better price and financing arrangement this way. It is going to give us a new Tabernacle seating about 5,500 people.

BUT SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR THE BUILDING FUND HAVE FALLEN OFF TO A MERE TRICKLE! We have to start sending the construction company several thousand dollars a month, beginning NOW!

Brethren, WHAT ARE WE TO DO? We can't go ahead with this Tabernacle unless YOU MEMBERS SEND IN THE MONEY! We cannot take regular tithes and offerings away from the GOSPEL WORK around the world -- WE CAN'T STOP GOD'S GREAT GOSPEL WORK -- and put that money into the Tabernacle.

[Once again, notice how Armstrong creates a sense of urgency by pointing to the 1972 deadline. And he uses the fake emergency to castigate his followers for not funding a building project.]

WHY, dear brethren, is it that unless I send out urgent appeals, most of you forget all about this great need, and QUIT DOING YOUR PART? W H Y ? Don't you realize that GOD is noting all we do -- or fail to do? Don't you know we are to be rewarded according to our works?

WE MUST WAKE UP! We must raise from $8,000 to $10,000 every month, by SPECIAL and extra offerings, over and above all regular tithes and offerings, OR ELSE WE CANNOT BUILD THIS TABERNACLE!…

[The rapacious "Mr. Armstrong" would not settle for what his followers were already paying under his onerous and unbiblical three tithe system. He wanted offerings over and above what they were already paying.]

… P.S. -- Even since the above was set in type, I must add this IMPORTANT P.S. At the local church here yesterday, I was moved to pledge a special, additional $100 per month to this building fund which Mrs. Armstrong and I had planned to be able, at last, after all these years, to lay aside for any future "rainy day" in our own lives or those of our children. We have never yet been able to lay aside any personal savings for ourselves. Our home is all we have in this world. If God took my life there would be nothing for Mrs. Armstrong, except what she herself could earn.

[How's that for a guilt trip? It was the members' fault that Herbert couldn't provide for his wife in the event of his death. What a guy!]

...We are now in the VERY LAST DAYS of this evil world. I have said that God will soon intervene in world affairs. Co-Workers, God began intervening in world affairs 24 1/2 years ago in the smallest and least-noticed manner -- proclaiming over merely a part of one county in Oregon the GOOD NEWS of Christ's coming and the KINGDOM OF GOD to rule the earth and bring us PEACE and salvation. Satan didn't pay a great deal of attention to it then -- it was too small to notice. But like the grain of mustard seed, it grew and grew, and multiplied in scope and power. At the end of a 19-year time-cycle, the first week in 1953, it was covering the entire United States -- and that very anniversary week God opened the door for His Gospel to leap over into Europe. The early Church was given exactly two 19-year periods to carry the Gospel to the world in an organized manner. God has allotted two 19-year periods to US WHOM HE HAS CALLED AS CO-WORKERS WITH CHRIST to complete the shouting of that Gospel to the whole world as a witness before there is a FAMINE of hearing the true Word of the Eternal. WE ARE NOW DEEP INTO THAT LAST 19-YEAR PERIOD.

[There are no "ifs" or "maybes" here. Armstrong is certain that he had two 19 year cycles in which to preach his gospel. The the first cycle began in January, 1934. The second would end, 38 years later, in January, 1972.]

…Now, suppose we continue to AVERAGE 30% a year increase, which is less than the average has been for 14 years. The average increase for 14 years has been 47%. Even this very year there was a 45% increase. Many of our members think it will CONTINUE to increase by not less than 30% a year.

IF THAT HAPPENS, just look at the astounding result: By year after next -- just two years in the ENLARGED Tabernacle, which will seat 7,000, we would have 6,750 in attendance. We would have to enlarge the Tabernacle again for the next Feast in 1961, when we would have 8,800 attending. The year after that, 1962, attendance would be 11,400.
Then, in 1963, there would be 14,800

Does that take your breath? IT DID MINE! No use figuring any farther -- for if our calculations are right, 1972 will probably be the last year of this great work -- we will then have to be taken to a place of safety by God's divine power, or suffer the Great Tribulation….

…But MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL -- KEEP UP YOUR MONTHLY PLEDGES, OR THE LARGEST SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR THE BUILDING FUND YOU POSSIBLY CAN, EVERY MONTH. Money has not been coming in at the rate we have to pay out, since the Feast. WE MUST INCREASE IT. OR LOSE THE TABERNACLE WE ALREADY HAVE! We CAN keep it up -- WE MUST. God bless you, Brethren -- GOD'S WORK MUST COME FIRST, and KEEP GOING ON!

… Co-Workers, YOU and I are the very ones He has called and chosen as His instruments in this most important mission of our time! God OPENED THE DOORS of radio and the printing press before me the very first week in 1934 -- 25 years ago! It started very small. But God blessed HIS WORK -- caused it to grow and grow, in spite of every persecution and opposition. He added Co-Workers to work with me. HE ADDED YOU! Today we are in the SEVENTH YEAR of our SECOND 19-year TIME-CYCLE which God has allotted for this MASS-PROCLAIMING of THIS MESSAGE FROM GOD! If God does not cut the time short, we may have another 12 years to complete this GREAT COMMISSION.

Does that mean we have far LESS than the remaining 12 years of our allotted two 19-year time cycles? IT MAY! LET ME TELL YOU, IT IS LATER THAN WE THINK!

Now THINK! What will any of your present PLEASURES, or acquisitions, or possessions, or money, mean to you IF, in two, three, or even 12 more years, the prophesied INVASION by the Nazi-Fascist European Empire blasts out of existence our main CITIES -- killing ONE-THIRD of all Americans; and the drought- famine and disease epidemics kill another THIRD of all our people, and the remaining THIRD are taken captive as SLAVES, exactly as prophesied (Ezek. 5:12, and 6:6)?…

…I do not mean by that to suggest any of you ought to sell your home, or all your possessions. You NEED a home -- we all do, in order that we may CARRY ON GOD'S WORK. I do not mean anything foolish -- but I do mean that nearly ALL of us are spending money for things we DO NOT NEED, which COULD be put into this great work of GOD -- if we are sufficiently yielded to God and His will, and our hearts first of all on the things above -- and the mission to which Christ has called us!

Here we are, in the middle of February -- SHORTEST MONTH OF THE YEAR. While WORLD events are speeding up with rapid acceleration, the income from you Co-Workers to keep GOD'S WORK also growing in power and scope and accelerating sufficiently to keep pace, IS DROPPING DOWN ALARMINGLY!

Co-Workers, THIS CANNOT CONTINUE! We must tighten our belts a little more. WE MUST CONTRIBUTE MORE GENEROUSLY -- all who are ABLE -- than we have been! God -- and the great WORK OF GOD -- is WAITING ON YOU! Beside our honest and faithful TITHES, which belong to God, we must be MORE GENEROUS with liberal OFFERINGS besides!…

…Is it mere coincidence that, as the preaching of Christ's Gospel to the world of that day continued for one time-cycle or 19 years in the very land where it started -- Palestine and Asia Minor -- and exactly 19 years later Christ opened the door for Paul to take the Gospel to EUROPE, and from there to the world of that day for one more 19-year time-cycle; SO God first opened the door of radio and the printing press for mass-evangelism in January 1934; and then, after precisely 19 years, in January, 1953, Christ opened the door of Radio Luxembourg, Europe's most powerful radio station, so His Gospel began going to Europe, and from there expanding to EVERY CONTINENT ON EARTH? Is that mere coincidence?

If God is moving in a definite, methodical, method of time- cycles -- as He has, up to now -- then we have approximately 9 1/2 years more to finish proclaiming His Gospel in all the world to all nations -- and then shall come the END of this present world, and the dawn of the happy and peaceful WORLD TOMORROW!

…Is it mere coincidence that, as the preaching of Christ's Gospel to the world of THAT day continued for one time-cycle of 19 years in the very land where it started -- Palestine and Asia-Minor -- and exactly 19 years later Christ opened the door for Paul to take the Gospel to EUROPE, and from there to the world of that day for one more 19-year time-cycle; so God first opened the door of radio and the printing press for mass-evangelism in January, 1934; and then, after precisely 19 years, in January, 1953, Christ opened the door of Radio Luxembourg, Europe's most powerful radio station, so His Gospel began going to Europe, and from there expanding to EVERY CONTINENT ON EARTH? Is that mere coincidence?

If God is moving in a definite, methodical, method of time-cycles -- as He has, up to now -- then we have approximately 9 1/2 years more to finish proclaiming His Gospel in all the world to all nations -- and THEN shall come the END of this present world, and the dawn of the happy and peaceful WORLD TOMORROW….

Again this month I have to send you a brief, to-the-point, extremely URGENT letter.

You and I are committed, as Co-Workers together with the living Christ, to the greatest and most important activity on earth today! There are astonishing -- yes AMAZING facts about this Work you may not know. As soon as possible, I want to take you into my confidence and make these facts plain to you. You'll realize, then, as never before, WHY this Work is by far the most important activity on earth today….

…But now, dear Co-Workers, the "midnight hour," spoken of in this parable, has struck. Christ's return, at last, does draw near. He has raised up YOU and all our Co-Worker family, to give to the world the cry, "The Bridegroom is COMING." The KINGDOM OF GOD is at hand. The WORLD TOMORROW is about to dawn!…

…The early Church proclaimed this Gospel for two 19-year time- cycles -- 31 to 69 A.D. In all probability WE are allotted two 19-year time-cycles. This Work started January, 1934. That gives us until 1972 -- less than NINE more years! Then shall follow a FAMINE of HEARING the Word of God! Yes, soon our mouths and pens will be silenced! Time is running out. It is later than we think!…

[Herbert Armstrong explicitly gives the year as 1972, instead of giving the number of years remaining in the second 19 year time cycle.]

…Last month I had to ask you for an immediate financial "shot- in-the-arm." THANK YOU FOR IT!! -- but a temporary shot-in-the-arm is soon dissipated! IT MUST BE CONTINUOUS. We are on the way -- but our emergency is far from over! And right now we are having a sudden LET-DOWN in tithes and offerings.

Co-Workers, THE NEED IS CONTINUOUS! The need is GREAT, right now! The need of loans of larger sums, if you cannot GIVE such sums now, but could let them be WORKING under CHRIST'S direction in HIS WORK, is still continuing.

In war-time, the government says "Give till it HURTS!" for war bonds. The NEED of GOD'S WORK is a far GREATER NEED!

One Co-Worker wrote me that he did not know it was alright to send in money IN BETWEEN my letters, or in any envelopes except the self-addressed return envelopes we send you. THE NEED IS ALWAYS GREAT. Don't wait for me to request it. Don't wait for our return envelopes. ANY envelope is O.K. And remember, ALWAYS indicate the call letters of the station you listen to.

…Now we had reached the final climax of this great Work. The living Christ is opening stupendous new doors that will MULTIPLY the power and scope of GOD'S WORK, until the whole world shall KNOW it has heard His message.

We come, now, to the final stretch of the Work. In a mile or two-mile race, officials fire a revolver in the air as the runners begin the last lap. They call it "the gun lap." This Work of God, leading to Christ's coming, has now entered its "gun lap." We must now put on the final extra burst of effort for the VERY FEW remaining years!

We know that to complete the Work, we must accomplish more during the next two to five years than in all previous 33 1/2 years combined!…

[Armstrong uses two new gimmicks to squeeze more money out of the membership. He calls the last few years before 1972 the "gun lap," and he says that "we must accomplish more during the next (the number of years remaining before 1972) years than we have in all previous (the number of years from January, 1934 to now) years combined!" These new ploys to shake down the members will pop up repeatedly until 1972.]

HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
Proclaims to the World the
GOOD NEWS OF THE WORLD TOMORROW
BOX 111, Pasadena, Calif. 91109

SOME CO-WORKERS APPARENTLY THINK Ambassador College doesn't really need any more new buildings. This has harmed Christ's GOSPEL WORK -- because it has affected special voluntary offerings for the Property or Building Fund. Every picture we have published of our three college campuses has, naturally, "put our best foot forward." And having seen only our finest, some seem to have drawn the false conclusion that now we have all we need. Frankly, Co-Workers, I think you should know that I wouldn't mislead you….

…Another point some need to be straightened out on is WHY we need new buildings, with TIME so short.

Some WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND are saying, "Well, if we have only about four and a half more years to go, why build any more new buildings?"

First, we cannot be SURE of only 4 1/2 more years. We cannot set dates and be SURE! We think that probably that is all the time we have left.

But, first, WE MUST ACCOMPLISH MORE IN THAT 4 1/2 YEARS -- if that is all we have -- THAN IN THE PAST 33 1/2 YEARS SINCE THIS WORK STARTED! And that is now possible because there are more of us -- bigger organization -- now.

We CANNOT expand the Work as it MUST expand to fulfill our great commission UNLESS we can construct more buildings QUICKLY!

This great Work of God MUST grow to TWICE the size it now is, in the next 2 3/4 years. By the end of 4 1/2 years IT MUST BECOME ALMOST FOUR TIMES its present size!

THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE IF we are to lay down on the job now. This Work cannot grow ANY bigger, without more buildings. We have gone as far as we can go with what we have!…

What is the living glorified CHRIST going to say to YOU, when He comes to call YOU to account -- and you have to FACE HIM? Is He going to ask YOU, "Why did you QUIT, right at the most important time of all? WHY did you LAY DOWN ON THE JOB, give up and quit just when the race was almost run?" (I Cor. 9:24 and Heb. 12:1 -- please read.)

What would you think of a man in a mile race who was running so well he was just about to WIN the race and set a new world record -- and then, half way through the "gun lap" (the last lap), he just quit running and sat down to rest and say, "Ho Hum!"

Jesus Christ has called and commissioned YOU AND ME to PREACH His WORD -- HIS TRUE GOSPEL -- and to give this dying world gospel "meat in due season!" The MOST IMPORTANT SEASON of all is right NOW -- and these next 4 1/2 years, or whatever time is left, JUST BEFORE Christ's coming!

The closer we get to THE HOUR of His coming, the MORE IMPORTANT it is that we feed this spiritually starved world Christ's MEAT IN THIS DUE SEASON!…

If some of you have been listening to Satan saying it is now too late to think of new buildings -- thinking that there just isn't enough time left -- then LISTEN TO THIS! I say we must accomplish more in the Work in the next 4 1/2 years than in the last 33 1/2. How can that be done? Let me explain HOW! And WHY!…

The power and effectiveness of this Work of GOD accomplishes MORE in ONE MONTH, now, than it did in the first SEVERAL YEARS COMBINED! That's why we can -- and MUST -- accomplish more in 4 1/2 years than the past 33 l/2! And it should become almost FOUR TIMES larger in the year 1971 than it is this year! That means we MUST HAVE space to work in!…

In Co-Worker Letters I have often mentioned loans from individual Co-Workers. Right now, IF YOU have a larger sum you are not able to GIVE as a donation, but do not need to use for a year or more, it would help greatly if you would LET IT BE WORKING where the Living Christ is directing, guiding, and blessing.

And if the biggest banks and insurance companies have confidence in the integrity of this Work, I'm sure you can. I have mentioned before, we do maintain a special and separate adequate cash reserve, as a GUARANTEE of our ability to repay such loans, if and when necessary….

Although it would not be wrong to use regular tithe-and- offering income for new building construction, I have always felt that MOST, if not all, of the funds for new property purchase and for new construction ought to come from special, extra, separate offerings -- over and above tithes and regular offerings -- given specially for this purpose.

That is why I have set up such a special fund, for those who are willing, to send in an extra and SPECIAL offering -- over and above tithes and regular offerings, marked specially for this Property and Building Fund. I do feel we ought to do our very best to keep up this fund as well as God makes possible, according to the ability of each….

[In this letter, Armstrong tries to answer a logical question: why go through all the trouble of constructing new buildings when we're going to be gone in 4 1/2 years anyway? With generous portions of gall, Herbert tries to have it all. First, with only 4 1/2 years to go till 1972, we need to go into overdrive in order to get the work done before the deadline. However, we can't accomplish more than what we are doing with existing facilities. We need new facilities to get the job done in time.

Second, maybe the work won't end in 1972. Remember, no man knows the day and the hour of Christ's return. If the work continues past 1972, we will need the new facilities to continue the work. Whether the end comes in 1972 or not, we need the new facilities.

Either way, keep sending that money in! And don't forget, on top of the three tithes you are already paying, make additional payments to the building fund. Thirty percent of your income ain't enough. We need 35, 40 or even 50 percent, and whatever is left over, you can send it in to us as a loan.]

This is one of the most IMPORTANT, URGENT letters I have ever written you. I hope you will read carefully, prayerfully, every word….

And as we now end the year 1967, and enter the CRUCIAL YEAR 1968, I have to tell you the FACTS -- facts about WORLD CONDITIONS -- facts about the status and plans for GOD'S WORK!

TREMENDOUS events are going to occur this year that will plunge the world far closer to the END of this present civilization -- but that actually hurtles us VERY CLOSE to the joyous WORLD TOMORROW, when we shall have world PEACE, universal prosperity, good health, abundant well-being, and when the living CHRIST, here in Person, WILL SET HIS HAND TO REALLY SAVE THE WORLD!

This great Work, now worldwide and multiplying in power, MUST accomplish more the next FOUR YEARS than during the past 34 combined! [Only four more years till 1972!] We are PREPARING THE WAY for Christ's RETURN to set up WORLD GOVERNMENT, and SAVE THE WORLD! You and I are having a significant PART in not only CHANGING the world -- but also SAVING THE WORLD! We are preparing the way. Already multiple THOUSANDS are being converted -- their lives CHANGED -- receiving God's HOLY SPIRIT -- being brought into GOD'S KINGDOM -- every year through this great Work. That number GROWS RAPIDLY EVERY YEAR! It's the most IMPORTANT, and PRECIOUS Work on earth today!…

But we have just suffered a MOUNTAINOUS SETBACK! A month ago I wrote you: "Now is the time when so many FORGET Christ's Work -- or any gift for Him -- exchanging gifts with relatives and friends, instead. "Also I wrote: "This is the month, dear Co-Workers, I have to ask you for EXTRA LIBERAL OFFERINGS -- to make up for the neglect of so many."

Some of our Co-Workers did make sacrifice and send extra liberal offerings -- but MOST seemed more indifferent to CHRIST and HIS WORK'S NEED than ever before! Never, in the past twenty years, has this great Work suffered such a LETDOWN from Co-Workers as a whole, as this December!

Co-Workers, WE HAVE TO GET TO OUR KNEES AND CRY OUT TO OUR LIVING LEADER, JESUS CHRIST, AS NEVER BEFORE! We need to sacrifice, and try to send in EXTRA LARGE OFFERINGS, as never before TO MAKE UP FOR THE DECEMBER LETDOWN!…

…The financial need is CRUCIAL right now -- MORE THAN ANY TIME IN RECENT YEARS! It is MOST URGENT! We are actually having to take steps to MATERIALLY REDUCE OUR BUDGET FOR 1968! This should never BE!

GOD'S WORK NEEDS YOUR EARNEST, PREVAILING, BELIEVING PRAYERS! It needs more large LOANS than ever before! It needs a BIG financial LIFT. I have to ask you to take this to GOD in PRAYER. It is MOST SERIOUS! There is no time to lose. I must RUSH this to you. God bless you!

HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
GARNER TED ARMSTRONG
Proclaim to the World the
GOOD NEWS OF THE WORLD TOMORROW

…TIME IS GETTING SHORTER by the month now! I have been telling you this. Now you read it in your newspapers -- hear it on newscasts and telecasts! Britain has collapsed as a world power. It no longer has any real power in world affairs.

For some months, now, I have said we are on the "gun lap" of the race our living CHRIST has set before us in His Work. We are coming in "on the home stretch." We must accomplish much more, in the next four years, than in all the last thirty-four, since God started this Work through us! God's last Message of love and warning must go in such multiplied POWER that it rocks this world -- AND ITS LEADERS -- back on their heels in astonishment!

Now we had reached the final climax of this great Work. The living Christ is opening stupendous new doors that will MULTIPLY the power and scope of GOD'S WORK, until the whole world shall KNOW it has heard His message.

We come, now, to the final stretch of the Work. In a mile or two-mile race, officials fire a revolver in the air as the runners begin the last lap. They call it "the gun lap." This Work of God, leading to Christ's coming, has now entered its "gun lap." We must now put on the final extra burst of effort for the VERY FEW remaining years!

We know that to complete the Work, we must accomplish more during the next two to five years than in all previous 33 1/2 years combined!

…There are many other prophecies directly tied to these events prophecies dynamically affecting the United States and Britain. These will be gone into and explained in the forthcoming new book, a greatly enlarged edition of "The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy". It will be offered, free, to all subscribers of The PLAIN TRUTH.

I will just say, now, that from those prophecies, it is possible that the taking away of the daily sacrifice in the Temple -- the placing of the "abomination" there also -- could take place early in 1972. This is indicated by Revelation 12:14 (another three-and-one-half-year period), by Rev. 3:10; and other facts of history and prophecy connected with Matthew 24:14 -- as well as other prophecies in Daniel.

HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
GARNER TED ARMSTRONG
Proclaim to the World the
GOOD NEWS OF THE WORLD TOMORROW

…There are so many exciting BIG NEWS things to tell you I hardly know where to begin. Things are happening faster than ever before. I have said we must accomplish more in God's great Work the next 3 1/2 years than in the last 34 1/2 years combined. And events in the Work -- as well as world events -- are moving along at precisely that kind of increasingly accelerated pace….

…Never was YOUR part and sacrifice for this Work so necessary! Try to keep the tithes and special offerings for the Work coming THROUGH THE COMING MONTH, as often and as generous as God makes possible! Even every widow's mite helps! But also the larger sums, as well as larger loans of amounts you cannot give outright at this time are urgently needed.

HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
GARNER TED ARMSTRONG
Proclaim to the World the
GOOD NEWS OF THE WORLD TOMORROW

…For the Work to constantly EXPAND its power for doing GOOD to so many millions of people worldwide, has required constant SACRIFICE on the part of all of us together who are Co-Workers with Christ. Even in the conduct of the Work, we here in the offices of top responsibility have to constantly cut back on the budget, watch our spending for the Work very carefully, postpone or give up entirely things that we would like to have for the Work. And if all you Co-Workers would FOLLOW our example in our direction of the Work, being willing to GIVE UP wants and desires that are not an absolute necessity, we WILL accomplish more in the next three years than in the past 35!…

Not only were receipt of tithes and offerings falling short of the needed annual increase, but the LOAN situation became acute. Many Co-Workers, thinking that dollars LOANED to the Work would be doing as much good as dollars GIVEN, began sending their offerings as loans. [Uh, oh! It appears that loaning money to the church wasn't such a great idea after all. They should have been outright gifts.] The thought, of course, came to mind that this way they could get it back someday if needed or desired. But we had to show it on our books as "DEMAND loans." It became top- heavy. We foresaw that our next financial statement would APPEAR to be unsound. Now WE knew, from years of experience, that only about 20% of these loans would be demanded for repayment -- 80% eventually would be converted to donations. But a banker examining our financial statement would not know that. Actually, we maintained a 20% cash reserve to back up these loans. Actually our practice was TWICE AS SAFE as bank practice. But we cannot afford to have it LOOK unsound. God's Work MUST NOT BE BROUGHT INTO DISCREDIT by any act or oversight of ours!

So I have had to ask all of you who can to cancel out your loans by converting them into donations or freewill offerings. And, if you simply CANNOT do that at this time, to convert them into FIVE-YEAR loans instead of demand loans -- that is, we would not be legally bound to repay more than 20% in any one year. I have explained that, IF an unexpected emergency should arise and you should seriously need more than 20% at any time, we would try to accommodate you and do the best we could, at our own discretion -- but without legal obligation. And I feel sure you can trust the men the living CHRIST has chosen and placed in the top responsibilities of His Work! [Many did place trust in Herbert and his lackeys, something they came to deeply regret.]

…The Work is on the home stretch! [At least he didn't say "gun lap."] From here on out it is going to require sacrifice, foregoing things we would like, HEARTRENDING EARNEST BELIEVING PRAYER!…

…Now about that date -- first week in 1972. Many Brethren have somehow gained the FALSE idea that we have said our Work will definitely be finished then, and we will at that time be taken to the place of safety and protection. [By September, 1970, a year and four months before the January, 1972 deadline, it was becoming clear that world events weren't panning out the way Armstrong expected. The end wasn't going to come in January, 1972 after all. Armstrong tried to put what we in the Clinton era call the best spin on his blunder as possible. He would not write off 1972 altogether, as you will read. He was covering all his bases, and positioning himself to be in the best position possible when January, 1972 came. If the "work" came to an end in 1972, Armstrong could say "I told you so." If 1972 came and went, he could say "I never told you so." In this, Armstrong showed himself to be an accomplished spin-meister, 25 years before the term became fashionable.] WE HAVE NEVER SET THAT OR ANY OTHER DATE, except as a POSSIBLE one. There is NO PROPHECY pointing definitely to that date. There have been a number of INDICATIONS of it as a POSSIBLE date, and the first one we consider at all likely. Right now it looks to me as about a 50-50 chance, and at least 50-50 our Work may go on another 5 or 10 years. Some Brethren have gained the idea Mr. Meredith said DEFINITELY it would go on 5 or 10 more years. Mr. Meredith told me he merely tried to correct the idea of a January 1972 date as a CERTAINTY. IT IS NOT A CERTAINTY! No date is, but the January 1972 date is, in my judgment, STILL A POSSIBILITY.

Yesterday, for the second time in two or three days, Jordanian guerrillas made another attempt to assassinate King Hussein. This morning's news says Iraq is threatening to attack Jordan. Such an event might trigger a chain reaction that would cause events to happen SO FAST, that what we have thought possible for January, 1972 can easily yet happen. In fact, events could go on ANOTHER YEAR from now, with nothing startling happening, then suddenly lightning moves in Europe and the Middle East could bring everything to a climax by January 1-7, 1972.

IT STILL MAY HAPPEN THEN. Also it may not happen for 5 or 10 years. ABOVE ALL, REMEMBER WE CANNOT SET ANY DATES! [Armstrong tries to have it both ways, and, as history will show, he succeeds. He does suffer losses, but he makes them up with a new generation of church members who did not experience the 1972 debacle.]

Now, Brethren I have to tell you that the Work is heading into a crisis again, unless we all move immediately to stop it. You came to the aid of God's Work splendidly last April. But for August, instead of a 30% gain in income as we had had for 33 years up until two years ago, it dropped 3% UNDER August, 1969.

Another thing, it seems MOST OF YOU have cut down on -- or quit altogether -- sending in SPECIAL OFFERINGS for the building and property fund. It has been WAY below last year. We have to plan to CARRY ON, right up to Christ's coming. HIS WORK CANNOT STOP! We still have to construct new buildings on all three campuses. SPECIAL PROPERTY FUND OFFERINGS ARE STILL VITALLY NECESSARY! [Whether or not anything happens in 1972, we still need money for buildings, dammit!]

Also the 3rd tithe fund has been slacking off. The number of members is INCREASING, and these funds ought to increase also. [It was at about this time that the church purchased a brand new corporate jet for Herbert's use. The jet was purchased using the third tithe fund, which was supposedly used only for widows and orphans. Jets cost a lot of money to purchase and operate, and the third tithe fund was being depleted by Herbert's latest extravagance.]

Brethren, we are in THE MOST SERIOUS TIMES of all human history. There are only a comparative FEW of us being used by the living CHRIST to finish His Work. WE MUST PUT HIS WORK FIRST BEFORE EVERYTHING. REMEMBER -- this is not MY Work -- it is GOD'S and He has called ALL OF US -- YOU as well as me -- to a great worldwide COLLECTIVE EFFORT. I know that many of you have been relaxing. If you are doing that, YOUR ETERNAL LIFE IS IN DANGER! We need an AWAKENING! We need to GET TO OUR KNEES!

We are now coming down close to the runway in Philadelphia. I have to stop. Brethren, PRAY as you never did before! Make some personal sacrifices. God's Work is MORE important!

HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
GARNER TED ARMSTRONG
Proclaim to the World the
GOOD NEWS OF THE WORLD TOMORROW

…I certainly cannot set dates for the much talked of "end of the world" -- which means end of the present age, and beginning of the peaceful World Tomorrow. But I have said there are some indications of the possibility of the final world crisis beginning early in January, 1972 -- just a year and three months from now. Actually events of the last few days could be leading into a chain reaction of events that would threaten immediate world war. Such a war could -- except for supernatural intervention by the "unseen Hand from someplace" probably would -- blast all human life off the earth.

I must tell you, dear friends and Co-Workers, these are SERIOUS times, and it IS far later than people think!…

This is a serious world crisis. It could EXPLODE into a world war at any moment.

Meanwhile, we must PUT ON THE PRESSURE, and speed up the great Work the living God is doing through us, for it is yet far from finished. Since we cannot know how much time we have left, we are laying long-range plans for ten years ahead -- in case we may be allowed that much time -- but ALSO we are planning to SPEED UP the Work as fast as funds allow, in case we may have no more than 15 months or so remaining….

Co-Workers, I think this gives you an idea of the tremendous progress of the Work. As world conditions worsen RAPIDLY, heading on into the grand smash CLIMAX that will END this age and this society, this Work is speeding up, AS NEVER BEFORE, to GET THE JOB DONE, before it is too late.

We did hurdle over our own financial crisis last February-March, but the need to maintain all cutbacks has continued up to now. But NOW the time has come when we must go back to publishing The PLAIN TRUTH every month, beginning December. Also TOMORROW'S WORLD magazine. Also there are many radio stations we had cut down from seven days a week to one. We must put the Message back on the air DAILY. New television stations have opened to us in Canada, which I approved while in Australia, and so this gives us, now, coverage in EVERY market in Canada, coast to coast on television. New outlets are opening to us in the U.S.A. and Australia. We MUST be able to take advantage of them!

That means all whose hearts are in this MOST IMPORTANT Work on earth must make whatever sacrifices for the Work that we are able. NOTHING else is so important, now. We MAY have only another 15 months to go, until our voices will be silenced until after God sends the living Christ back to this earth to restore the GOVERNMENT OF GOD over all nations to bring us PEACE. On the other hand, we must be prepared to carry on another two or three, or five, or ten more years until we really do SHAKE THIS WHOLE WORLD with God's last warning Message!

We cannot know, now, just how much more time we have. But this we DO know -- we must get back of this great Work to our UTMOST, as never before! Our GREAT REWARD is not far ahead, now. And in the meantime GETTING THE JOB DONE is all that matters!…

…But I simply MUST tell you the GOOD news of the fact that on last Friday, January 7, the 38th anniversary of the start of God's Work on the air, GOD SUDDENLY, UNEXPECTEDLY, OPENED THE MOST POWERFUL DOOR FOR GETTING OUT HIS MESSAGE EVER OPENED IN THE HISTORY OF THIS WORK!

We had been working toward this for several years, but had no reason to expect the definite positive decision at all -- and certainly no reason to expect it on that day!

Friday, January 7, at about 11:30 a.m., word came from Reader's Digest that they had OPENED THEIR ADVERTISING COLUMNS IN THEIR GIANT MASS-CIRCULATION UNITED STATES EDITION -- 17,750,000 copies -- a readership of 55-65 MILLION people -- to us. And not merely to Ambassador College for non-religious messages, but also to Worldwide Church of God. And, while we will not use a straight religious message at first -- but will advertise The PLAIN TRUTH -- there seems to be the probability that, later on, they will accept "Message ads" and also advertising for subscribers to TOMORROW'S WORLD.

On that same day, later in the afternoon, came the signed, sealed and delivered documents for the financing of the superfine AUDITORIUM -- to us, GOD'S HOUSE here at His present world Headquarters in Pasadena!

[The big day finally arrives! The second 19-year cycle is at an end. What does Armstrong have to show the members, now that the most important day of our time has arrived? Why did he need all those extra buildings? Why did the brethren have to sacrifice, and contribute to building funds in addition to their tithes and offerings? All this sacrifice was needed to run ads in Reader's Digest!!!!

On top of that, the church members were going to be given the opportunity to contribute to another building fund!!! They would be given the privilege of paying for God's House, later known as the Ambassador Auditorium!!!!!!!!

For those of you out there who still haven't figured it out yet, you were taken for suckers. You were nothing but a bunch of chumps. You were conned by a master con-man, a criminal by the name of Herbert W. Armstrong.]

2) that He wills that we NOW, at last, build this superb House for Him at these temporary Headquarters. We know that in God's time, His Headquarters will be re-established at Jerusalem. But apparently He is showing us that He is allowing us enough time to get His Message MORE INTENSIVELY to the world -- TO A LARGER NUMBER IN THE WORLD -- than we have done so far.

It is significant that by the end of 1971 we were able to say, for the first time, "THIS GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM HAS BEEN PREACHED, AND PUBLISHED, IN ALL THE WORLD FOR A WITNESS UNTO ALL NATIONS" (as in Matthew 24:14)….

Therefore, let us GO ON, with increased ZEAL and INSPIRATION, where the living Christ is LEADING us! Let us make renewed sacrifices financially that the Work may take full advantage of this new Reader's Digest opening. It will mean thousands of additional changed lives this year -- but it depends on all pulling together, doing our part with greater zeal than ever!…

[Yes, the Reader's Digest ads were to inspire us so much that we would make renewed financial sacrifices, all thanks to the apostle, Herbert W. Armstrong.

Am I glad that I was only 12 years old in 1972, and that I hadn't heard of Herbert W. Armstrong at the time. I already feel like a big enough sucker as it is. To have been promised the Kingdom of God, and to receive Reader's Digest ads instead probably would have caused me to kill myself.]

The great WORK OF GOD, beginning January 7, entered a new -- and its last -- phase. Suddenly the Work has been catapulted onto a new and higher plane. [The spin begins. There is more to come] Our Commission is to preach and publish Christ's GOOD NEWS (gospel) into all the world as a witness (Mat. 24:14).

We have been getting that job done -- and nobody else has! But on January 7th, the living HEAD of this Church, Jesus Christ, opened before us the BIGGEST DOOR in the history of the Work. He showed us that we have not yet reached the world as THOROUGHLY as we must. Now the means are placed at our disposal for greatly magnifying the POWER of this Work for getting Christ's Message to multiplied more MILLIONS! The giant door is opening to us to get THE MESSAGE, in an article such as might appear in TOMORROW'S WORLD, before approximately THIRTY-FIVE MILLION in the United States alone -- in Reader's Digest -- with the largest circulation by far of any magazine. And that besides many, many additional millions all around the world in their foreign editions. We now contemplate using FOUR FULL PAGES each time (within a few months) in order to get a complete article before their millions of readers!… [More spin. Bill Clinton must have taken lessons from this guy.]

As I wrote you on December 27, after my letter sent in January, just over a year ago, the special building fund offerings did equal $200,000 per month for several months -- but now, with several thousand additional members baptized since January last year, we are falling off by some 20% under last year. We ought to be able to increase this special fund by at least 12% to 15% -- because our membership has increased by that much. But instead, now that the magnificent structure to honor OUR GOD is ACTUALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, we are giving less!

Brethren, the Work is now OBLIGATED to this fund, and we must PAY IT, even if we have to take the money from the proclaiming of the Gospel to the world!

God is now honoring and blessing His Work and stepping it forward bigger than ever! But WE have OUR part to do -- and we MUST NOT FALL DOWN ON THE JOB!

We ARE getting the job DONE! Let us, therefore, take courage, and inspiration, from what God is doing for us, and go forward with OUR part MORE THAN EVER BEFORE! If you have not yet sent in your statement of intention card, please do so by return mail -- even if unable to help in this special fund, or if only by small amounts. Let us be generous according as God has made possible!

[There was no end to the utter gall and the crassness of Herbert W. Armstrong. For almost 20 years he used the impending end of the world to prod his members into giving more and more money for his pet construction projects. When events proved him utterly wrong, he substituted Reader's Digest ads for the return of Christ. Then he expected his followers to be so inspired by the Reader's Digest ads that they would willingly pay for the most expensive building of all, the extravagant Ambassador Auditorium. But he got away with it!]

This is the time when EVERY MEMBER of God's Church needs to feel the URGENCY of rededicating our lives to God and to His Work! God is WITH US! We must be with HIM!

The Good News of Tomorrow's World
Personal from the Editor (Herbert W. Armstrong)
February, 1972

…Now a word about what my Commission is NOT. It is NOT to become an infallible expert on, or to preach, chronology.

I feel at present that the whole question of chronology is in confusion, and no one can be positively SURE of dates.

As of the present I, and a majority of our historians in Ambassador College, and researchers in the School of Theology, feel that it is utterly unsafe to try to SET DATES in regard to future prophesied events, especially the return of the living Christ in supreme Power and Glory to rule all nations of the earth.

But we are only human, and it is natural that we should have been curious to know, as far as possible, how much time we had to GET THE JOB DONE….

That, however, in fact, is not our MAIN PURPOSE, OR COMMISSION -- which is to proclaim Christ's Announcement of the advance good NEWS of the coming Kingdom of God to rule all nations -- and the message commonly called salvation -- the fact we may be born again through Jesus Christ -- born into that Kingdom.

The question which Christ, the Head of God's Work, has NOT revealed in the Bible is, HOW THOROUGHLY He intends it to be done!

The prophecy of the proclaiming of this Message IN OUR TIME, is in Matthew 24:14. Jesus said: "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached (and published -- Mark 13:10) in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end (of this age) come."

Let me say now, that in early July last year (1971), I could not have said that had as yet been done. But, in the literal Scriptural meaning of that commission, as of January 7, 1972, IT HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED!…

[This is nothing but pure spin. Armstrong tries his best to avoid looking like a fool. Some people left the church at the time. But most members stayed and consoled themselves with his lame excuses.]

BUT -- the unanswered question is -- HOW INTENSIVELY DOES God intend ALL these countries to be reached? That is the question He has not answered -- IN THE BIBLE. (Unless by one implication of which I will cover later.) But, by what HAPPENED on that very day, January 7th, and since, it appears He has now given us the answer -- He intends the nations to be reached MORE INTENSIVELY than as of now!…

I, too, received Christ's Gospel NOT from MAN. I, too, certify that the Gospel I have taught and proclaimed is NOT AFTER MAN. I entered no theological seminary, where I would have received a particular denominational teaching and set of doctrines and practices. I was not taught by MAN. But I was taught, as was Paul, by the revelation of Jesus Christ -- Paul from the living Christ IN PERSON -- who is the Word of God in PERSON -- but I from the WRITTEN WORD OF GOD -- which is the SAME revelation, now set in print.

I did not get it all PERFECTLY at the beginning. No one could. Most of God's truths, assuredly, were revealed perfectly and in truth from the beginning. But, as an example, even Peter says "... our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction" (II Peter 3:15-16). And sometimes, in the light of other Scriptures, I had to confess error AND CORRECT IT….

Let me ask you this question. Do you know of any large, established, well-recognized professing Christian denomination which has PUBLICLY confessed it had been WRONG in what it had been teaching, and which then CORRECTED the error, and turned to the TRUTH?

No, the big established churches and denominations feel they cannot afford to admit having had any error -- having ever mis-taught the people. But are they ALL perfect and correct in what they teach? If so why do not any two AGREE in all points of doctrine? The REASON is simply that they DO teach certain errors which they are afraid to confess, for fear they would lose members.

THUS THEY HAVE EDUCATED THE PEOPLE TO SUPPOSE THAT IF ANY LEADER, ANY CHURCH, AND WORK OF GOD CAN BE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN IN ERROR IN ANY POINT, THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED. To confess and correct error is to be branded a false prophet!…

If I were looking for God's one true Church, I would assuredly LOOK FOR ONE THAT HAD CONFESSED AND CORRECTED ITS ERRORS! FOR ALL HAVE HAD THEM -- even the early churches (Rev. 2:4, 14, 20)

Any criterion assumes God's TRUE Work through humans is absolutely perfect, unable to be wrong or make mistakes or hold to any error, is a false measuring stick and will mislead you….

So, confessing such an error is one of the SUREST proofs to identify the people through whom the living Christ IS WORKING -- and whom HE is USING!…

[This is also pure spin. Armstrong tries to turn his major weakness, a lack of theological training, into his major strength. His theological and biblical ignorance was the cause of the 1972 debacle. Yet he spins this into a positive, by stating the true church would be willing to admit errors when it made a botch of things.

You will see, however, that Armstrong was not willing to admit his error. Not only did he not apologize for predicting the end of the world in 1972, he would not even admit he made the prediction! At the same time, he would refuse to apologize for making the prediction, as you will soon read.]

The early Church was given 19 years for the first phase of its ministry, when the door was opened to carry the Gospel to EUROPE! The same, TO THE PRECISE DAY, was true in our case! And that is FACT!

It SEEMED we would have a second 19 years to get the Message "in all the world, as a witness to all nations."

I admit we were somewhat excited by this realization of FACT. We are HUMAN! Our hearts are IN God's Work to which He has called us. This was, to some extent, an emotional revelation. Would YOU have the same normal human reaction, had you been in our place? I think all but dour, prejudiced, hostile critics, who would like to see God's Work destroyed, would have reacted as we did!…

Emphatically, if we -- in our dedicated enthusiastic ZEAL to get God's WARNING of the end of mankind's world before this sick, sick world -- DO, even though we intend not to, appear to set a date, I FEEL I DO NOT NEED TO APOLOGIZE! No one but the enemies of ALL GOOD will accuse!…

[The shamelessness continues. Armstrong felt he did not need to apologize for misleading his followers. At the same time, he portrays those who would criticize him for his mistake as "dour, prejudiced, hostile critics, who would like to see God's Work destroyed."]

As I have said, Moses made mistakes, Abraham made mistakes, David made mistakes, Elijah made mistakes, Peter made mistakes, and so have ALL MEN God has ever called and used. Making a mistake is NOT any evidence at all that a man is NOT being used of God. But these men CORRECTED their mistakes! AND SO HAVE WE! And I am correcting a few in this very "Personal"!

The BIG POINT is -- WE HAVE BEEN GETTING THE JOB DONE -- and no one else on earth has!

One point remains. The question, HOW THOROUGHLY does God intend His Work to reach the nations?

It DID take a second 19 years to get the message into all nations -- but, as of January 7th, 1972, we had reached many of them ONLY SUPERFICIALLY -- not intensively!

I know of no place in the Bible where, in specific plain words, this question is answered. The one possible answer is in Matthew 24:14, the very prophecy defining our COMMISSION for this latter day. There we are to preach and publish this Gospel OF THE KINGDOM in all the world FOR A WITNESS unto all nations….

If that is the meaning intended, then we must say that God does intend many nations to be warned more intensively than as of now….

In view of WHAT DID HAPPEN, on January 7th, it seems God has revealed no uncertain language, BY THE VERY THINGS THAT HAPPENED on that day, that we must now reach all nations MORE INTENSIVELY!

[Armstrong now tries to save face by trying to show that something significant did happen in January, 1972. He tries to put the best face on an embarrassing situation.]

1) On that very day, the MOST POWERFUL DOOR so far opened to us, swung wide open. We had hoped for it, but not really expected it. We had no idea WHEN the answer would come. On that day the purchase of advertising space in the ENTIRE UNITED STATES edition of "Reader's Digest" opened before us. Total circulation, 17,750,000 copies -- with a readership of 50 to 70 MILLION people -- by far the largest of any magazine. That is from 1/4 to more than l/3 of ALL the people in the U.S….

…2) On that day we received from our bankers the signed, sealed and delivered financing for 80% of the superb new auditorium, NOW ACTUALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION on the Pasadena campus. Since, besides being the college auditorium, for us it will also serve to honor GOD at the present Headquarters in Pasadena, it seems God assures us of a few more years at least to go, since it will take two years to complete it.

[More gall. Armstrong states that God will give him the time he needs to finish the Ambassador Auditorium. Members need not worry about fleeing to the place of safety until the Auditorium is completed.]

Since, one of the most powerful radio stations, KOA Denver, has opened time for THE WORLD TOMORROW at 7:30 every evening, seven nights a week, and for the Garner Ted Armstrong T.V. program at noon Sundays.

Since then, the NUMBER ONE independent T.V. station in the U.S. -- top rated outside the major networks -- WOR, New York, has opened PRIME TIME -- actually in the very center of prime time for New York -- 10 p.m., Sunday nights, beginning February 13th!…

…Brethren, Satan KNOWS now that he has but a SHORT TIME. But do YOU know it? Satan KNOWS, BECAUSE these doors are opening to me -- BECAUSE the warning Message of the KINGDOM OF GOD is now going to the many nations and kings! -- where it was BARRED from going prior to 1970-1972. Satan will try to cast a spell over you so you will disbelieve -- fail to heed.

Before 1972 many of you made great sacrifices for the precious WORK OF THE LIVING GOD. I TOLD YOU, time and again, I was NOT setting dates -- there was no ASSURANCE our Work would be over by January, 1972. [A few years had elapsed since 1972, and Armstrong hoped that nobody would remember that he DID set dates. This statement was a lie.] Yet some DID set the date, and when the Work was NOT finished in January, 1972, some said, "Well, MY LORD HAS DELAYED HIS COMING. I've been sacrificing to support the Work. NOW I'm going to SPEND THAT MONEY ON MY OWN SELF ENJOYMENT. Christ may not come for another thousand years!"

Brethren, this is a call from the LIVING CHRIST to WAKE UP. God has held back the four winds of the Trumpet plagues that were to usher in HIS COMING AT THE 7th TRUMPET (see Rev. 7). HE HELD THEM BACK, so that He might OPEN THE DOORS TO KINGS, PRESIDENTS, PRIME MINISTERS, even EMPERORS -- so that HIS MESSAGE could go into their nations to THEIR PEOPLES.

THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING EVER SINCE! I have had, beginning at age 80 -- just as God used Moses to lead the Israelite slaves out of Egypt when he was 80 -- to PROPHESY AGAIN BEFORE MANY PEOPLES, NATIONS, TONGUES AND KINGS. It is the most STRENUOUS JOB OF MY ENTIRE LIFE.

Yet SOME of the brethren and co-workers have let Christ down! They have QUIT really SACRIFICING to support this greatest Work in 1900 years on earth!

Brethren, the Work is forging ahead in spite of that. There is now reason to believe that the college may double in size in the next year or two. GREAT THINGS are soon to be announced. That is because GOD HAS NOT LET ME DOWN!!! Dear children in the Lord, I need you to PRAY TWICE AS HARD! I need you to PUT YOUR WHOLE HEART in your prayers. I don't DARE let down -- DO YOU? I NEED your encouragement. Garner Ted needs your heart-felt PRAYERS and encouragement. THE WORK is going ahead -- but NOT FAST ENOUGH! It needs your financial SACRIFICE -- it MUST go ahead faster, so that Christ may soon say to us -- YOU and me -- "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the GLORY of My KINGDOM"!

…During the late sixties, certain indications led me to envision the possibility -- never the certainty -- that the Work of the Philadelphia era of the Church might be completed by the first week in January, 1972. Never did I remotely believe that could be the time of Christ's return; the Great Tribulation, the Day of the Lord and other prophesied events had to occur after completion of our Work proclaiming Gospel Message, Law of God, repentance and fact of coming Kingdom of God. Nor did I set 1972 as definite date but only a possible date for completion of our commission. Yet some members totally misconstrued what I did say, and took it to mean definite date settings for end of this world and coming of Christ for the new World Tomorrow ... I never did, and do not now set dates -- even as to the year….

…So Revelation 10 shows that when our Work appeared to be close to finished and there should be no more delay in God's intervention, God did hold up world events, and I was commissioned to NOW go with the Kingdom Message to many KINGS, or national leaders, of many nations, speaking different languages. That is what, as I now look back in retrospect, I have been doing since 1970 and especially since 1972. So perhaps our Work would have been completed by 1972, except for this special commission….

…This Work is launched on the GREATEST AND MOST POWERFUL THRUST FORWARD IN ITS 47 YEARS. NEVER have I and the whole Work needed your prayers and continued EXTRA financial backing as now. When home I am recording two TV programs a week and also two radio half hours. Our TV crew is here, and the meetings here will be telecast over the U.S. We are launched on the greatest PUSH FORWARD ever. PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

Armstrong went to his grave never admitting that he was the one who mislead the membership into believing that 1972 would be the end of this age. He lied when he said that he never set a definite date for the completion of the "work." When his prediction failed, he refused to apologize, and he blamed the people who believed his prediction for believing the prediction! He spent the rest of his life trying to explain away his mistake.

To all of those out there who still honor Herbert W. Armstrong's memory, remember that you are honoring a false prophet, a liar, and a man so vain he refused to apologize for misleading tens of thousands of his followers.

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1964	19,200
1965	25,000
1966	32,500
1967	42,250
1968	55,000
1969	71,500
1970	93,000
1971	121,000
1972	157,000