Herbert W. Armstrong, Elijah, and Philadelphia

“Elijah in the wilderness“

A reader sent me an email today as follows:

Greetings again,

I was also wondering what are your thoughts on those who claim that HWA was the end time Elijah and the responsibility of the Philidelphia Christian in this day and age is to only listen to material produced by him and not any other minister from worldwide or any other “splinter groups”.

Thank you,

My response mentioned that Herbert W. Armstrong’s writings demonstrated that he was not the Elijah.

While he sometimes thought he was, he specifically expressed doubt to the late Evangelist Dibar Apartian (and who also told me). Dibar Apartian did not believe that HWA was the Elijah when we discussed this several times and he agreed with me about this.

Notice something that HWA actually wrote about this:

I have been asked “Are you the Elijah?” And I say “No.” (Armstrong, Herbert W. Congress of Leading Ministers Hears Defined and Reemphasized Spiritual Organization of Church. Worldwide News, March 6, 1981, p. 10)

Consider that Herbert W. Armstrong also wrote:

Those called into the Church were called not merely for salvation and eternal life, but to learn the way of God’s government and develop the divine character during this mortal life in the Church age … Also Malachi 4:5-6 pictures the Elijah to come at the very end of the Church age (Mystery of the Ages. 1985, pp. 201, 349).

When did Herbert W. Armstrong write that the Church age was over? Notice:

At the end of the Church age and 6,000 years from Adam, Christ would return to earth as King of kings and Lord of Lords, ruling all nations, with the saints, for one millennium. (Armstrong HW. What If Adam Had Taken of the Tree of Life? Plain Truth, March 1983)

The “very end” of the Church age was not decades ago in the 20th century!

The 6000 years has NOT yet been fulfilled (see also Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?). Since the “very end of the Church age” has not happened, and HWA died last century, his writings support that there must be another Elijah. So, since Herbert W. Armstrong was not the final Elijah (see also The Elijah Heresies), then another must come to restore all things.

Herbert W. Armstrong did NOT restore all things.

As far as restoration goes, Herbert W. Armstrong taught that God was reproducing Himself through humanity and that Christians would become deified, become God after the first resurrection.

That is true.

Deification itself was taught by early Christians and is still taught by the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox (see What is Your Destiny? Deification? Did the Early Church Teach That Christians Would Become God?).

HWA also taught the way of love and the give way of life (see The Two Trees: Only Two Ways of Life).

But HWA did not clearly teach why God made anything or why God made each individual.

Those are perhaps the two most basic questions of philosophers throughout the ages.

But the WCG, under Hebert W. Armstrong taught parts of it.

At a Bible Study in Pasadena I attended c. 1978, then WCG minister Art Mokarow expressed the position that the purpose for each individual was to be able to give in a unique way.

While in my last COG, in c. 2009 I asked its then top leader why God made each individual and he did not know. So, I told him about the Bible Study and expanded that to “The purpose for each individual is to be able to give love in a unique way.” He concurred with that statement, but never seemed to have taught it publicly.

After leaving that COG, in the CCOG, that purpose statement was expanded to:

Your purpose in this life is to build character so you can maximize your potential and increase how much better you can improve eternity. God made YOU so that you will be able to use your unique talents (Matthew 25:14-23; Luke 19:11-19) to give love in order to make eternity better! … God’s plan for all who will respond to Him is to be able to give love in a unique way to make eternity better for them personally and everyone else. (The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You?)

Now why did God create anything?

God created what He did so eternity would be better. (cf. Hebrews 6:9, 11:16; Philippians 1:23). (The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You? )

Those are two BASIC TRUTHS which were not restored by HWA, but were restored via the CCOG.

These are important, even fundamental, truths, not just some ancillary knowledge.

Related to the restoration of truths, the following was in the latest CCOG Letter to the Brethren:

Herbert W. Armstrong once wrote, “1933 … At least 18 basic and essential truths have been restored to the True Church since that year” (Mystery of the Ages, Dodd & Mead, 1985, p. 251).

(UnSplash photo)

In a sermon titled Mission of the Philadelphia Church Era by Herbert W. Armstrong given on December 17, 1983, he started off with the following:

Greetings, everybody! This afternoon I want to speak on the mission of the Philadelphia Era of the Church, this Church today in comparison to the first era of the Church, the Ephesus Era of the Church. It’s been seeming more and more to me, as the years go by, that the Bible was written primarily for the Philadelphia Era of the Church …

During that sermon, he listed 18 truths he felt that the early Church of God held, but that had been lost by the time of the Sardis era of the Church of God.

The CCOG may be the only COG that has ALL the 18 restored truths that Herbert W. Armstrong pointed to as restored to the Philadelphia portion of the COG in its official Statement of Beliefs–see Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God.

This subject of restoring knowledge is important because Jesus prophesied the restoration of all things when He stated:

11 … Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. (Matthew 17:11, NKJV throughout unless otherwise noted)

In Matthew 17:11, the term translated “will restore” is the Greek term apokathistemi which means “to reconstitute” or “restore (again)” (Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.) and is preceded by the Greek term men which means “truly” in the asseverative sense.

Here is the first historical quote I found in WCG’s literature about an Elijah to come:

The Work of Elijah 1. Did Christ affirm that ‘Elijah’ must come before His own return? Matt. 17:11…John the Baptist did a one-man work. But today God works through the Body of Christ — the Church composed of many members (Eph. 4:12, 16) After Christ’s ministry on this earth, it was no more a single individual that did God’s Work (through the power of His Spirit), but the BODY of Christ…Today the ‘body’ of Christ — the entire CHURCH OF GOD through its voice, its prayers, its tithes and offerings and its various other functions — is heralding Christ’s eminent return (Matt. 25:6)…And the hearts of both parents and children are being turned back to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is what the ‘Philadelphia’ Era of God’s Church is doing today!…And it is this Church which will be taken to a temporary place of safety just as Elijah was taken to a place prepared by God (Armstrong HW, editor. Lesson 53. Ambassador College Correspondence Course. 1969).

Hence, it was originally Herbert W. Armstrong’s position in WCG that the Philadelphia Era of the Church of God would be involved in the Elijah role. Later, instead of just the Philadelphia era, he felt that it would be just one person, with the assistance of others in the church. Of course, the verses in the Bible clearly are referring to one man; but also one who would have support from the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God.

In a coworker letter dated, August 24, 1982, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:

John had come in the power and spirit of Elijah, but they did not recognize who he was. “Now why, then was Elijah YET, in the future, to come-just before the ‘day of the Lord?’ Verse 11, Jesus said to ‘restore all things.’ John the Baptist DID NOT do that! … Have WE, through this Work, RESTORED anything? Indeed we have!

So, yes a group can assist in restoration.

In the 20th century, Herbert Armstrong wrote that there would be a final human being as type of Elijah as well.

Since Herbert Armstrong died in 1986, he could not be the final Elijah according to his own writings. For example, he wrote:

Malachi 4:5-6 pictures the Elijah to come at the very end of the Church age (Mystery of the Ages. 1985, p. 349).

When did he write that the Church age was over? Notice:

At the end of the Church age and 6,000 years from Adam, Christ would return to earth as King of kings and Lord of Lords, ruling all nations, with the saints, for one millennium. (Armstrong HW. What If Adam Had Taken of the Tree of Life? Plain Truth, March 1983)

The “very end” of the Church age was not decades ago in the 20th century! The 6000 years has NOT yet been fulfilled (see also Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?). Since the “very end of the Church age” has not happened, and Herbert Armstrong died last century, his writings support that there must be another Elijah.

Notice also the following prophecy in the Book of Daniel:

4 … Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. (Daniel 12:4)

Yes, with planes, trains, and cars, many go to and fro. And with computers, the internet, etc. knowledge has been increasing. But that prophecy also would seem to support the idea of spiritual knowledge being able to increase.

We have been restoring much of that in the Continuing Church of God–and in more details than others.

In addition to us holding fast to the 18 truths Herbert W. Armstrong said he restored, here is a summary (with links for details) of other matters restored in the CCOG:

Dreams & Signs of Acts 2:17-18
Why God Created Anything
Why God Created Human Beings
Teaching all things Jesus taught (Matthew 28:19-20; see also The Final Phase of the Work)
Church History–and how it supports the COG contending for the original faith
Laying on of Hands Succession and List
Violent Sports (see also Is American Football Evil?)
Details and Ramifications of Being Non-Trinitarian (see also Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity?)
The Final Phase of the Work and Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God translated into over 1500 languages–while working on more (see also Preaching the Gospel in Over 1500 Languages)–and while distinguishing between the millennial and post-millennial phases of the Kingdom of God
Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles
Prophecy (watch also 50+ Laodicean Prophetic Errors)
Habakkuk 2 and Debt (e.g., see Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel)
Identity of the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2
Daniel 11:39 and the Start of the Great Tribulation
USA-Samaria Identification
Mark of the Beast
Why Do Christian People Die?
Information on the Third Resurrection (see also Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation
The reason there was a both Passover and Atonement sacrifice representing Jesus (see Should You Keep God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays?)

There will be a 21st century Elijah, and that individual would be expected to be part of the Continuing Church of God.

We have also put out information to help, “turn the heart of the fathers to the sons, and the heart of the sons to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6 AFV)–and are working on other ways to better do this.

God has restored last days’ signs to people now in the CCOG (for details, see Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?).

Because of Acts 2:17-18 and Daniel 12:4, we can know that the final restoration of “all things” in the last days did not happen in the 20th century, and must therefore happen in the 21st century.

The CCOG has restored more in the 21st century than all other COG groups we are aware of–we are setting the stage for the Elijah fulfilling Jesus’ words in Matthew 17:11.

We in the Continuing Church of God are continuing to support the work of restoring all things–and many truths have been restored in our church. See also the article: Continuing Church of God, Elijah, and Restoring All Things.

The Bible teaches:

1 Let brotherly love continue. (Hebrews 13:1)

The Greek word translated as “brotherly love” is the word Philadelphia. So the following would be an accurate rendering:

1 Let Philadelphia continue. (Hebrews 13:1)

The writer of the Book of Hebrews may have been inspired by God to convey two concepts:

That brotherly love needs to continue amongst those who believe that they are Christian.
And perhaps that Philadelphia itself needs to continue, and it can do so, because of its emphasis on love. It is important for all to realize that despite flaws of Christians, that love is what God’s way of life and His kingdom are really all about.

A Philadelphia remnant needs to continue until the end of this age. And the Continuing Church of God expects to do that and believes it has proven that it is succeeding (see also How does the Continuing Church of God differ from other Sabbatarian COG groups?).

Herbert W. Armstrong also wrote about:

the Philadelphia succession or generation of the true Church of God. … The “Philadelphia era” or succession of God’s Church will be taken on the “two wings of a great eagle”–whatever that symbolizes–to a place of protection where we are to be “fed”–provided for. We need now to begin to be ALERT, for this “flight” may happen suddenly. DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THE NEGATIVE SNEERING OF EXCOMMUNICATED MINISTERS: Both Revelation 12:13 and 3:10 warn us. (Armstrong HW. Great Significance of Summit Conference. Pastor General’s Report, Vol. 2, No. 26, June 27, 1980).

While the “Philadelphia era” is no longer predominant in this Laodicean time, Herbert W. Armstrong correctly pointed out the existence of its succession–which we can consider to be the remnant.

The late WCG evangelist Dean Blackwell taught that the work would need to be revived and cited the following scripture:

2 O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. (Habakkuk 3:2)

Here is some of what he wrote:

Why do you think in Habakkuk, God said that He’d “revive His work in the midst of the years”? Would this be said if they were doing the work in all the time of the New Testament Church? …

Habakkuk … said that God would make known what is happening and what’s going to happen in man’s last years, in the day of His wrath. He requested that God remember mercy and hide His people in a place of safety. Notice that he mentions this will be in the last years — in the midst of the last years.

What did we just read there in Habakkuk 3? Did He say, of the Sardis Church, that He gave them an open door; that they were small in number, and that yet He opened the doors that no man could close? He didn’t say that at all about them. He didn’t open a door getting the work done until the Philadelphia church. That’s what your Bible says! No one knew the key of prophecy. No one even knew about Israel. Why, the Sardis church never could have preached the gospel around the world as a witness. (e.g. Blackwell D. A HANDBOOK OF CHURCH HISTORY. A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Ambassador College Graduate School of Theology, April 1973, p. 17)

That said, the work has been revived and truths restored in the Continuing Church of God (see also Continuing Church of God, Elijah, and Restoring All Things and The Final Phase of the Work).

The Laodicean Church is the last one mentioned in the book of Revelation (Revelation 3:14-22). As the last, it is the one that will be the most dominant at the time of the end. The word “Laodicea” can be rendered “the people rule”, “judgment of the people” or the “people decide.” Laodicea is characterized by a rejection of the governance accepted by the Philadelphians–the acceptance of church leaders in accordance with scripture (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-16), and by a general lukewarm attitude. Thus governance can be seen as a key distinction between Philadelphia and Laodicea. Laodicea places emphasis on self (of the individuals or the leaders as opposed to proclaiming the whole truth including the Gospel), thus it also waters down the Truth-and so is “rebuked and chastened” and counseled “to buy from Me gold refined in the fire” (Revelation 3:18-19). Laodiceans, also, do not truly accept Philadelphian era church governance (see The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government).

Because Laodicea is dominant at the end of the age, Philadelphia cannot be predominant in numbers then. However, a portion of Philadelphia must still exist.

We also know this because Jesus told the Philadelphians: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly!” (Revelation 3:10-11). The Philadelphians, those of the Philadelphia remnant of the Church of God, are the only ones promised protection! The Philadelphians are “given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent” (Revelation 12:14).

That said, since Herbert W. Armstrong was not the final Elijah to come, it is not wise to believe that one should only pay attention to materials from him. And if people actually paid close attention to what he taught, all would realize that he could not have been that Elijah, but that there would have to be one in the 21st century.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Elijah Heresies Does the Bible teach that there will be a future Elijah? Must it be Herbert W. Armstrong? Three related sermons are available Elijah: Prophecies and Heresies, Elijah, Herbert W. Armstrong, and CCOG, and 21st Century Elijah.
Continuing Church of God, Elijah, and Restoring All Things Have all things been restored? Is there restoration going on? Is there supposed to be a 21st century Elijah? Here is are links to two related sermons: 21st Century Elijah and CCOG: Restoring All Things. Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: La restauracion de todas las cosas.
Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle Herbert Armstrong claims God had him raise the Philadelphia up. Are there reasons to believe that the Philadelphia mantle in now within the CCOG? Here is a link to a related sermon: Herbert W. Armstrong and the Philadelphia Mantle.
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18? Here is a link in the French language: Est-ce que l’Église Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d’Actes 2:17-18? A related sermon in the English language is also available: 17 Last Days’ Signs of the Holy Spirit.
Church of God Leaders on Prophets Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Leaders on Prophets.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
21st Century Church of God Prophets Are there any true prophets in the 21st century? What about false prophets? What are scriptures and fruits to identify the true from the false? You you prove all things and test the spirits?
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here? A related sermon is available: Prophecy and the Two Witnesses. Here is a related link in Spanish/español:¿Quiénes son los dos testigos?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. There is also a video on the subject: Might Petra be the Place of Safety? Here is something related in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra?
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots. They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent. One video of related interest is 50+ Laodicean Prophetic Errors. See also Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors?