"The WORLD
TOMORROW"
A WORLDWIDE BROADCAST
HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
Proclaims to the World the
GOOD NEWS OF THE WORLD TOMORROW
BOX 111, Pasadena, California
Publishing
The PLAIN TRUTH
a Magazine of UNDERSTANDING
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
July 17, 1958
Dear
Co-Workers with Christ:
A tragic accident has struck us. Last
Wednesday afternoon
I had to drop everything and race to San Luis Obispo, half way between
Los Angeles and San Francisco.
My elder son, Richard David Armstrong (Dick), and another of God's
ordained elders, up here on a baptizing tour, were in a terrible head-on
automobile wreck, a few miles from here. They were taken to a hospital
in this little city, with Dick in very critical condition. He came as
near death as could be possible and still live. Let me say quickly
he is
making good progress, and we know God will heal him -- but this
Sunday afternoon,
four days after the accident, he is still in critical
condition. Thousands of people are fasting and praying for his recovery,
all over the United States and in England -- and I know I can be sure
that you, too, will join us, IN REAL FAITH, at once. Our other man,
Alton B. Billingsley, was not critically injured, and was able to return
to
Pasadena two days later.
At first it was hard to understand how a thing like this could happen.
BUT IT WAS FOR A PURPOSE! I hope I can make it plain to you, for this
terrible accident affects every one of us -- YOU included!
I will explain, but first let me tell you what happened and Dick's
condition. Dick was sitting in the "death seat" or the right front seat.
A large Cadillac crashed into them head on, literally shearing off the
right side of our men's car a fourth of the way across. Dick saved his
life by instantly lunging over close to the driver, Mr. Billingsley --
otherwise he would have been cut in two. He received a badly broken
pelvis -- his hip bone split about an inch and a half apart; his right
arm broken at the elbow -- a very bad break; his jaw badly broken, and
several teeth knocked out; his stomach and intestines knocked up thru
the diaphragm against the left lung, collapsing the lung, and shoving,
his heart over on his right side.
A third car also crashed into the Cadillac, so it was a three-car
pile-up. The cars were a total loss. My son was the only one critically
injured, though a woman passenger in another car had both legs broken --
it was reported not as seriously as it might have been, and others of
course more or less seriously injured, but none critically.
In the first hospital to which they were taken, both men refused any
medical aid, relying on God. Dick was in deep shock, but had
gained
semi-consciousness, and stoutly refused medical aid. His blood pressure
was down to 40, due to loss of much blood. Below 60 is usually fatal. He
was dying. The hospital refused to keep him, unless he would give them
free hand in medical treatment, and hastened to transfer him to another
hospital, where they instantly gave him a blood transfusion.
The accident occurred at 1:15
Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Norman Smith, another of our ministers, and I
picked up Dr. Ralph E. Merrill, our college physician and member of our
Board of Trustees, and drove to San Luis Obispo. We found we could drive
faster than we could get here by plane, even chartering a special plane.
We arrived at 7:30. By that time Dick's blood pressure was up to 105.
Later
that night it was 110, and before we left the hospital after midnight,
112. They were giving him oxygen, and he was breathing heavily, but
conscious, though his mind was not entirely
clear yet due to extreme shock.
I think most of you know that we rely on God for healing, not medicines.
However, what Jesus healed, and the apostles, and what God PROMISES, is
sickness, disease, and infirmities. If you have heard me speak on the
subject you have heard me always say that in case of a broken bone, man
can and should set it, and leave
the HEALING to God. Dick was not afflicted with sickness, or disease, or
infirmities -- but with broken and displaced organs that need to be put
back together. For such, as God's people, we should have it done by the
most expert specialists obtainable. That is what I authorized
immediately.
It so happens that in this little city there are more top-flight
specialists in these various fields, according to population, than any
other in California except Pasadena. There are exceptionally competent
specialists here -- Dr. Merrill assures me as good as any on the coast.
In all, seven of these, including Dr. Merrill, are collaborating in
Dick's case. Dick could not receive better care and help anywhere on
earth. One specialist has been flown by private plane from the U.C.L.A.
Medical Center in Los Angeles. These men are co-operating with us,
respecting our Biblical belief as to trusting God
for HEALING, instead of medicines,
and on the other hand we are not in any way tying their hands in
anything vital to getting Dick back into perfect shape. They fully
realize that Dick occupies a very important and essential position, and
are giving every conscientious effort in their power to get him back in shape.
Let me say that, WITH GOD'S POWER, on which we rely fully,
he can be put
back in perfect shape, where he will be in as good physical condition as
before. And THAT depends on our prayers, and the FAITH we let God give
us.
Let me say, too, DO NOT BLAME THE OTHER HOSPITAL for getting him off
their hands. In this world there are LAWS regulating doctors and
hospitals. Had Dick died in their hospital without their administering
what they regard as proper medical treatment, the hospital and the
doctors would have been CRITICALLY LIABLE, possibly prosecuted for
criminal neglect, their licenses revoked, and possible penitentiary
sentences. From their point of view they HAD to either treat him
medically or get him quickly off their hands.
And
they did not dare give this medical treatment against his
determined protests. Apparently he was too far gone to
protest when he was carried into the second hospital. And after I
arrived, I did authorize what was necessary to allow these specialists
to do what God would have MEN do, and in such a manner that the doctors
and hospital are protected against criminal neglect according to state
law!
They do not dare start to set bones and got the broken and displaced
parts back in proper place until he is strong enough to stand
anesthetics. His temperature and blood pressure have been essentially
normal since that first night. Then, as always happens in such a case,
his kidneys, being overloaded, were unable to produce normally, and the
doctors cannot begin these replacements until this condition clears up.
Yesterday and today the kidney
condition is improving. The doctors are much encouraged.
This has been a terrific test of will power and character for Dick. I
want to tell you, as his father, I am well pleased
with the manner in which he is behaving under the most terrible ordeal
of his life. He is showing far greater strength of character than even I
realized he had. His wife and baby son were brought up here early
Thursday, and Lois is proving a wife of remarkably strong character. She
is helping every way, keeping up courage, not going to pieces -- and
still nursing her baby without any upset condition in the baby whatever,
and spending hours each
day at Dick's bedside.
Now WHY did this happen? We know that God did allow it to happen. Some
unthinking people, not fully knowing God's ways or the BIBLE, begin to
wonder if God is punishing my son and Mr. Billingsley, or if this means
we do not have any divine protection, after all!
To such, I say, "O YE OF LITTLE FAITH AND NO UNDERSTANDING!"
This was allowed to happen -- and for a PURPOSE! But that purpose was
not to punish these two servants of God who were at the moment out in
His service. Nor does it mean for one moment that we do not have divine
protection! THEY DID HAVE DIVINE PROTECTION, or else both would have
been killed. God permitted this to go just so far, and NO FARTHER. Dick
was allowed to be carried as near death as is humanly possible and still
live. But he was protected from death -- and
he will be delivered out of
this, and healed.
I have had to face the question, in praying to God about it, of whether
I would be willing to give him up, if God should take his life. I have
had to tell God that if that is what He does, then GOD'S WILL BE DONE!
Abraham was required to be willing to sacrifice his son. God didn't
require him to actually do it, after he was willing and obedient. But
God did sacrifice HIS Son Jesus for us!
I had to tell God I was willing -- if that be God's will. But I believe
it is God's will to let Dick be a LIVING sacrifice, his whole life
dedicated, as it already is, to GOD'S SERVICE.
Dick was actually dying
when removed from the first hospital. God then began the work of
bringing him up from that depth, and starting him
on the road toward complete recovery. Friday early afternoon they called
me to race to the hospital -- Dick was hemorrhaging from the mouth,
blood simply pouring out in big volume. I prayed. The doctors could not
seem to find the source or stop it. I kept praying, and I BELIEVED, and
knew God would stop it. A broken-off
tooth had snagged an artery or blood vessel in the gum or cheek. The
doctor pulled the tooth, and Dick withstood the pain without a sound.
The blood stopped. His blood pressure had gotten too high just before
this happened. It brought the blood pressure back to normal. ALL THINGS
WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD to them that love the Lord! It proved a blessing.
Yes, Dick has God's protection! Will you keep praying for him -- and
BELIEVING?
A few years ago I was striving to get this great work of God so
organized that, if my life should be taken in an accident, THE WORK
would go right on. But some said that was foolish, because nothing
could possibly happen to me -- I had such protection from God that He
would never let anything happen. I told them they
were wrong. If my sudden death would result in WAKING UP all you
Co-Workers, and all our staff, and arousing you to the place where the
WHOLE WORK would go on with more power than with me still
alive, then God probably would let that happen!
MY OWN LIFE is worth
NOTHING, except its value to the WORK OF GOD! Let me say to any of you
who have been negligent, and letting down, and not
putting your whole hearts into this WORK OF GOD, that if you want to
prevent that from happening, the way is to AROUSE yourself, and put your
heart into God's work so unselfishly and zealously
that God will not
have to do any such drastic thing to shake YOU into more zeal.
Things have happened lately to show us that SATAN IS STRIKING FIERCELY
RIGHT NOW at GOD'S WORK! If you don't believe there is a devil, let me
tell you THE BIBLE says there IS! And it says that in these very days he
is very WROTH with those of us who keep the Commandments of God, and
have the faith of Jesus -- those proclaiming Christ's TRUE GOSPEL to the
world!
I want to tell you that this work of God is being OPPOSED at every hand.
It is being PERSECUTED! We are having a STRUGGLE to carry it on. And
what are we struggling against? Will you let the Word of God tell you?
"We wrestle NOT against flesh and blood (people), but against
principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS" --
or better translated "against WICKED SPIRITS in high places" (Eph.
6:12). Verse 11 says we need to put on the WHOLE ARMOR OF
GOD, in order to withstand the WILES OF THE DEVIL! Therefore this
Scripture tells us these things actually come FROM
THE DEVIL. We don't
see that, because the devil is a super-powerful SPIRIT being,
invisible to human eyes.
NOW LISTEN! Let me tell you WHY this happened! This work of God has been
GROWING this year as never before. Never before has God opened so many
new DOORS of radio, and other mediums for GETTING OUT HIS GOSPEL! No
longer do we number those being CONVERTED -- their lives being changed
-- begotten of God, being SAVED -- in the dozens or the scores or even
in the hundreds. This year for the first time they are numbering INTO
THE THOUSANDS! This summer we have had a total of FOUR baptizing teams
out touring the entire United States and Canada. There are between two
thousand and twenty-five hundred awaiting baptism -- or there were, when
the teams started out. They are utterly unable to get to all of them
this summer. We are now planning to keep at least one baptizing team
going the year around!
My other son, Garner Ted, is conducting an evangelistic campaign in
Springfield, Missouri. At first we received reports from there that many
whole church congregations were going to attend, and that we would have
to move to a larger auditorium to hold the crowds. But by opening night
we learned there was OPPOSITION! The church congregations were being
warned and told NOT to attend. Every effort was made to keep people
away. The
auditorium was filled anyway! After the first night, when many came from
50 miles to as far as 500 miles away the crowd was less but it began
increasing -- hundreds hungry for the real Bible TRUTH! That campaign is
proving a big success. People are being converted -- several already
baptized!
All this abundant harvest God is giving HIS WORK has ANGERED SATAN!
Satan is WROTH! He is striking every way he can!
I have heard of
astonishing incidents which cannot be accounted for any way except SATAN
with his invisible POWER striking at this WORK OF GOD!
Mr. Billingsley was driving the car when the accident occurred. Mr.
Billingsley was formerly our chauffeur at Ambassador College. He is one
of the best, most careful drivers I ever rode with -- an experienced,
professional driver. As other chauffeurs were employed, until we had a
complete transportation department, Mr. Billingsley advanced to be
manager of the department. His Bible knowledge and teaching ability
improved, and his after-hours service helped so many people spiritually
that he was put full time into the SPIRITUAL, phase of God's work, and
ordained as an Elder. He had just been praying, just before this
accident, that God would
help him be careful in driving. He WAS careful. He cannot explain -- nor
can Dick -- how this happened, except that all of a sudden here came
this car crashing into them.
I cannot explain it any way except that Satan was striking at this work,
by striking at one of our very highest-ranking and most able ministers
-- and that GOD ALLOWED IT, for a great PURPOSE!
That purpose was to WAKE UP many of you careless and negligent and
half-indifferent Co-Workers, who have your minds and hearts as much or
MORE in the interests of THIS WORLD -- in MATERIAL interests -- than in
this precious and ALL-important WORK OF GOD!
We can see the hand of GOD in this in many ways! Had God allowed Satan
to strike at myself, or Garner Ted Armstrong, it might have stopped the
broadcast, because we do all the broadcasting. On the other hand, though
some of you Co-Workers scattered over the country may not know it, Dick
Armstrong somehow has had more LOVE and COMPASSION for those he
ministers to than any of our ministers, including myself. As a natural
result, there is none among us MORE LOVED by more people. Satan thought
he could strike a master blow by striking at Dick Armstrong. He is
director of all the overseas work around the world. If God let my life
be taken, it would have to be either Dick or Garner Ted who would step
into my shoes in the general direction of this whole work of God.
Satan wanted to strike at JOB. God allowed it, but said: "Behold, he is
in thine hand, but save his life." Satan could go no farther than God
allowed. God allowed him to go as far as possible SHORT OF DEATH. God
allowed the same in this accident with Dick.
Satan can go no farther
than God allows. This has been a terrible shock to those who have heard
it. Even though I have been up here, away from Pasadena, some have come
to me to tell me how it has shaken them up, and brought them to
a reconsecration and full dedication of their lives to GOD and this work
of Jesus Christ!
God DOES NOT PROMISE TO PROTECT US FROM ANY TROUBLES OR ACCIDENTS
HAPPENING! He does promise to deliver us OUT of them, after they happen!
"MANY are the afflictions of the righteous: but the ETERNAL delivereth
him out of them all." "The angel of the ETERNAL encampeth round about
them that fear him and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:19,7). Notice. the
angel does not ALWAYS prevent the accident from happening -- though I
fully believe he USUALLY does. But he "delivereth them" -- if or when
they get into it!
These things do not come as punishment. Job's friends kept arguing that
his affliction came as punishment for his sins. Job flatly denied this.
God said Job's friends were wrong and Job was right. The Apostle Paul
was afflicted, and allowed to suffer physical violence up to the very
point of death. Notice Acts 14:19. READ IT! God allowed Satan to use
human enemies to STONE PAUL, until his heart actually stopped beating
long enough for his
enemies to decide he was dead, and go away. GOD WAS NOT PUNISHING PAUL,
for he had committed no sin to bring it on. He was in God's service at
the time, the same as my son Dick was. Paul came as near death as Dick
-- but God kept him alive and RESTORED HIM WHOLE,
FOR GOD'S WORK!
Paul was not in an automobile wreck -- they didn't have automobiles then
-- but PAUL WAS IN A WRECK! He said "Thrice was I beaten with rods, once
I was stoned, THRICE I SUFFERED SHIP-WRECK!"
This was all WHILE in God's service proclaiming the SAME GOSPEL Dick
was, when Dick was allowed to get into a wreck. Notice II Cor 3:11. Paul
was in persecutions, and afflictions -- but GOD DELIVERED HIM OUT OF
THEM -- as I know He will deliver Dick, if you join me and other
thousands in BELIEVING PRAYER!
Not since the days of the original apostles has this same GOSPEL JESUS
PREACHED been proclaimed to the whole world.
Satan persecuted them, by
bringing VIOLENCE on them in various ways. "And great FEAR came upon all
the church, and upon as many as heard these things" (Acts 5:11).
However, when such troubles beset them that threatened to stop their
work, they unitedly PRAYED to God for more power and faith and boldness,
"and when they had prayed the PLACE WAS SHAKEN WHERE THEY WERE
ASSEMBLED." God answered them -- delivered them -- protected them -- so
HIS WORK COULD GO RIGHT ON!
Dear Co-Workers, Mrs. Armstrong and I have had to go through a great
deal of suffering and struggle. I could never have had the ability to be
used as God's instrument as He is using me, had I not learned, and been
tried, and tested, and DEVELOPED by this suffering through the years. I
have often said to my wife that one thing our two sons lacked, which God
had given us, was this struggle and hardship and suffering. Well,
my son
Richard David is now getting a whole LIFE-TIME amount of suffering in
one concentrated dose. It is taking great courage and bravery. He lies
there, helpless, praying constantly, TRUSTING God,
bravely enduring the
tremendous pain which the doctors at times have to put him through,
co-operating with tremendous will power. I told him that I admire him as
I never knew I could any man, and he looked up to me and said through
his broken jaw he cannot move, "I love you, Dad!" He says he is willing
to ENDURE this through what will be many months unless God causes by a
miracle much faster than normal healing. Can we, today, unitedly raise
up our voices to God in such BELIEVING prayer that He will answer with a
miracle?
In the midst of this great abundant HARVEST of precious lives for
eternity, OUR CO-WORKERS HAVE BEEN LETTING DOWN and becoming neglectful,
this past month. Not all of you -- many of you have stood loyally by us,
at great sacrifice -- but many others have
become careless and neglected
to send in tithes and offerings as you could, and should. In June our
Co-Workers responded to my appeal nobly, but in July it seemed like a
reaction, and there is NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO CARRY ON GOD'S GREAT WORK AT
TOP EFFICIENCY! Our business department is in a terrible financial bind.
Co-Workers, WILL YOU NOT ONLY
PRAY FOR MY SON'S MIRACULOUS AND SPEEDY RECOVERY -- but also for the
financial salvation of this WORK OF GOD? I
believe God allowed this terrible thing to happen for that very purpose.
I am asking God to see that it reaches your heart, and touches it so
that those of you who have been neglectful
will AROUSE TO UNSELFISH AND GENEROUS ACTION for the work!
I know that
this has proved a heart-shaking and tremendous prod on all our staff at
Pasadena.
Before closing, I have one bit of WONDERFUL NEWS for you. Here is
another blessing from GOD, and an answer to the prayers of MANY! For
more than a year, Basil Wolverton, nationally known artist, and also a
professional writer, one of the Board of Directors of this work, and an
ordained Elder, has been working
untiringly on the BIBLE STORY BOOK FOR CHILDREN. At last I can announce
that it is almost ready for publication. We have decided to first
publish it SERIALLY in The PLAIN TRUTH, as a monthly BOYS'
AND GIRLS' DEPARTMENT! I am very enthusiastic over what he has written.
NEVER before has there been anything like it. It is the CONTINUOUS STORY
OF THE WHOLE BIBLE, from beginning to end. It is
written primarily for children from about 9 to 12, but it is written in
such a manner that even children of around four or five can UNDERSTAND
IT, if their parents read it, and explain it as they go along. And it is
also written in such style that teen-agers will really ENJOY it, and not
feel it is too young for them -- and better still, ADULTS will greatly
enjoy it, and I believe thousands will get a clear UNDERSTANDING of the
Bible, and of GOD'S PURPOSE and PLAN such as they never had before! So,
while it is primarily written for ages 9 to 12, it is a marvelous thing
for ALL AGES! It is thrilling -- exciting -- gripping -- interesting --
and so PLAIN to understand! It is TRUTH!
It is planned to later publish this as a book -- or even series of
books, as it looks like it will be more than one book. It will be
profusely illustrated with Mr. Wolverton's drawings. I hope we can start
it with either the October or November issues. So BE PATIENT JUST A
LITTLE LONGER, and I think you will be overjoyed with it. I think this
means we shall have to begin publishing a larger PLAIN TRUTH -- possibly
32 pages instead of the
present 24 pages. PRAY for us that all this may be possible!
In closing, let me quote the words of Jesus: "My meat (food) is to do
the will of Him that sent me, and to ACCOMPLISH HIS WORK. Say not ye
that there are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? Lo, I say
unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white
with harvest." (John 4:34-35, Numeric translation). Jesus was speaking
of the HARVEST OF SOULS FOR GOD'S KINGDOM. He painted the picture as it
is now -- BUT, as we read elsewhere in Scripture, the harvest is
plenteous, BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW!
Satan has stricken down one of our very chiefest laborers, for a
duration until God completely restores him. But most of all, GOD'S WORK
NEEDS MORE CO-WORKER LABORERS WHO HELP WITH THEIR URGENT HEART-RENDING
PRAYERS, AND WITH THEIR TITHES AND GENEROUS OFFERINGS, REGULARLY EVERY
MONTH, OR EVEN EVERY WEEK.
Many of you CAN respond much better. SOME FEW of you are able, if
willing, to put in larger amounts, even up to a few thousand dollars.
BRETHREN AND CO-WORKERS, WILL YOU RALLY TO THIS
GREAT NEED?
Richard David is NOT yet out of danger by any means. As I write tonight,
his life still hangs in the balance and, except for God's intervention,
could suddenly go either way. His condition is still extremely critical.
HE NEEDS YOUR EARNEST AND BELIEVING PRAYERS!
Today a man came to see him, who until about three months ago was a
completely paralyzed cripple, confined to a wheel chair for seven years.
He had not walked or had use of his left arm for seven years. His
terrible injury came in the Korean war. He was in the 1st Division
Marines. The best doctors and surgeons had done all medical science
could. He was crippled for life. Three months ago, he came to my son
Dick Armstrong for prayer. Dick
anointed him and prayed and asked God to heal him. Almost instantly he
was HEALED. He had to learn to walk all over again. Now he almost leaps
up stairs two steps at a time, and the left hand that could not move now
gives you a mighty firm grip in a warm handshake! Several have been
completely HEALED -- a woman and baby
in child-birth given up by the doctor to die -- NOTHING could be done
humanly -- but Dick refused to give up, kept right on praying and
believing, and the child was born and the mother saved. The DOCTOR
will tell you this was an absolute MIRACLE!
If an ox is used in treading out the corn -- as an instrument in reaping
corn -- he is not muzzled and denied his share of the corn. If
God has used Richard D. Armstrong as His prayer-instrument in healing
others, surely God won't deny my son HIS share of
God's healing, now! WE NEED
HIM! GOD'S WORK NEEDS HIM -- it needs your prayers --
it needs your
tithes and offerings -- it needs YOU! May God richly bless you! I KNOW
you will quickly and generously respond -- and please KEEP IT UP, weekly
or monthly.
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!
With all my love, in Jesus' name,
Herbert W. Armstrong
Richard Armstrong's
car accident and his tragic death due to neglect of medical treatment to
prevent shock
(includes thoughts and comments by ESN at end)
Loma Armstrong's Bowel Obstruction
(Incredible 1967 Co-Worker letter showing HWA's manipulation and
coercion tactics to exploit his followers into sending in more money.)
How Did
Worldwide Church of God Instruct Ministers to Deal With "Health and
Medical Problems"? (These policies
were taught to the ministers to "avoid prosecution" and show the main
reason why WCG changed the healing doctrine.)
Questioning Herbert W.
Armstrong (was he who he said he
was?)
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