nor does he lose control of his physical capabilities. If Ezekiel 18:4 teaches eternal death for the sinner, it certainly would apply to the “man of sin” of II Thess. 2:3, who is yet to come upon the world scene. Yet, accord ing to Rev. 20:10, which gives us a preview of the eternal doom of this individual, he has not ceased to exist even after one thousand years in the “ lake of fire.” The verse is plain: “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” The Bible definition of “ life” is to know Christ. (John 17:3) The Bible definition of “ death” is to be separated from Him. QUESTION: Is it not wrong to celebrate Christmas since it is so There is certainly much about the way the world celebrates Christmas that is wrong in God’s sight. How ever, we must face the fact that the world has misused nearly everything that Christians hold sacred, including the Bible, Gospel music, the Lord’s Day, and much more. If we were to discard everything that the world has adapted to its own purpose we would have nothing left. The truth is that thousands of Christians find real blessing in remembering the birth o f Christ at Christmas. The Lord knows the hearts of men and I believe that He is pleased with the heart that is truly thankful for all that is involved in the humiliation and incarnation of Christ at His birth in Bethlehem. No good purpose is served in persuading people to stop setting aside a special time to worship and praise God for Christ’s coming to save us. If your Christmas can pass the test of Colossians 3:17, it will not be wrong for you to celebrate. “ And what soever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” QUESTION: How can Herbert Armstrong continue as he does without asking for money, if his work is not of God? ANSWER: It is true that Mr. Armstrong does not charge for his pamphlets, nor is there a subscription price for his maga zine The Plain Truth. You are reminded of this fact in nearly every issue. There are at least two reasons that make it possible for him to continue this practice. The first is that many people send gifts when writing for free material from a religious work. This is a fact which you may investigate by writing any religious broadcaster. The second, and greater reason, however, is that Her bert Armstrong presents his work as the only one worthy of tithes and offerings. In this he is unlike many other religious broadcasters who expect, and sometimes even urge you to support your local church, and then send additional gifts to assist in their work. Armstrong believes the message your church proclaims is a “ Satanic coun terfeit” instead o f the message of Christ, and is therefore not worthy of your support. He does not ask for a part of your giving, but rather for all of i t It is also to be noted that while Mr. Armstrong is will ing to send his literature free to those who request it, he is not nearly as easy-going in money matters with his followers as the public might think. I have a letter before me, written by him from the Ambassador College in England on July 19, 1961, and directed to his constituency which he calls the “ Brethren paganized? ANSWER:
of GOD’s Church.” He begins the letter by saying that he is writing with a “heavy heart,” and one of the opening paragraphs reads as follows: “ I am thoroughly discouraged, and I’m going to tell you WHY — and if some of you — yes, MANY of you — do not WAKE UP, and REPENT, I say to you on Christ’s authority that He is about to spue you out of His mouth, and your end will be the lake of fire!" What is it that has their leader so discouraged and disturbed? He writes that there are two reasons. The first, he says, is that many are not co-operating in being w ill ing to shift the location of their coming “ Feast of Taber nacles,” as he wants than to do. The second reason he gives is that “You brethren ARE NOT SENDING IN ANY INCREASE IN SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR THE PROPERTY AND BUILDING FUNDI” Likely few readers have ever heard such hard preach ing on giving from any pastor as is given in this letter. If you think that Armstrong makes no mention of finan cial needs to anyone, you simply do not have the facts, as this letter proves. The letter was mailed to me by one who was once interested in his work. QUESTION: Where does the Bible mention Sunday as the Sabbath? ANSWER: Sunday is not the Sabbath. Saturday is the Sabbath as given to Israel in the law of Moses. According to Colossians 2:14-17, the Sabbath days were a shadow of things to come, for the Israelites, that were fulfilled in Christ. “ Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ’’ (Col. 2:16-17). After the resurrection of Christ, we find the early Christians meeting together on the first day of the week, or the Lord’s day, for the breaking of bread and the preaching of God’s Word (Acts 20:7). Paul instructs the Corinthians that the first day of the week is the day for the laying aside their offerings (I Cor. 16:2). It was, without doubt, the practice of the early church to remember the resurrection of Christ on the first day of the week. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, in the year 110 A.D. wrote, “Those who walked in the ancient prac tices attain unto newness of hope, no longer observing sabbaths, but fashioning their lives after the Lord’s Day, on which our life also rose through Him, that we may be found disciples of Jesus Christ, our only Teacher.” It is significant that those who hold to the Sabbath as given to Israel hold also to a mixture of law and grace for the Christian today. They need to read again Paul’s word to the Galatians, “ I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Gal. 2:21). As I have listened to Herbert W. Armstrong’s broad cast “THE WORLD TOMORROW,” read his tracts, and searched through his magazine The Plain Truth, I have concluded that this religious system might be called: “ THE RELIGION OF THE UNREAL.” Heaven is not really a hope. Hell is not really hell. Grace is not really grace. Salvation is not really Salvation. Israel is not really Israel. How refreshing it has been to hear of many who have left this system of error to return to real Bible truths and to give their talents and energies to the work of Christ* in their local Bible-believing churches. Perhaps your question is one of those listed above. Perhaps you will be the next to turn from the errors of “ ARMSTRONG- ISM” to Bible truth. “ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (HI John 4).
SEPTEMBER, 1963
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