Herbert Armstrong claimed to have certain truths which were revealed to him by God. He said this knowledge had been lost for 1900 years but was now, in this end time, being proclaimed to the world by God's "Apostle" (him) and through His "one and only true Church of God." Was this true? Or do his doctrines, instead, appear to be very similar to other groups which have always claimed similar "truths"? If one examines, for example, the doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, and Seventh-day Adventists, and then compares what they teach with HWA's "truths," they will notice not only a similarity--but in many cases a word for word copying.

Here are a few articles which prove that HWA copied or lifted almost all of his doctrines from other groups, many of them from well known Bible-based cults: 

Mystery of the Ages (a critical review) (chapter 3 shows how he copied from JW's)

HWA claimed God revealed the BI truth to him alone

HWA plagiarized U.S. and Britain in Prophecy (offsite link) 

It is well known that most leaders of Bible-based cults have been guilty of plagiarizing others' material and then claiming it as their own--in other words, what God revealed specifically to them alone. Plagiarizing is the act of copying the words or ideas of another author without giving that person recognition. HWA's copying doctrines and then pawning it off to members as his own unique truth; i.e., "God's truth," would constitute plagiarizing. We all know that he never said, "I got this truth (or mystery) from such and such author, but decided it was so good that I thought I would put it in a booklet of my own and pass it on to all of you as the restored gospel." HWA was dishonest, since he always claimed God had revealed that "truth" directly to him.

All religious cults claim to have God's truth and they all claim to be the one true Church. We highly recommend you do some research into this. (Also read our articles under Understanding Mind Control and Exploitive Groups.) But the truth always has a way of coming out. The True History of the True Church, a WCG booklet  that members were to read and believe, has been found to be completely fabricated. (See ESN article: True Original Church/Faith Once Delivered for proof that Herbert Armstrong lied about the "lost" church century and Daughter of Babylon: The True History of the Worldwide Church of God [online book].)

Many of Herbert Armstrong's "truths" sound quite similar to extremist New Age thinking and doctrine. Compare what WCG members were taught to look forward to and what New Agers look forward to:

False teachers usually never have anything new or original to offer. Charles Taze Russell (founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses) wrote a book entitled Divine Plan of the Ages. His successor, J. F. Rutherford, wrote one entitled, The Finished Mystery. (Can you see similarity between the titles of those two books and HWA's Mystery of the Ages?)

False teachers and false prophets often distort church documents, taking things out of context, adding, omitting, twisting and slanting. To see how HWA did this, read: Did Herbert Armstrong Distort Historical Church Documents?

False teachers always add some extra book or "new" information to the Bible, which they proclaim was "revealed to them." HWA's, Mystery of the Ages was supposed to contain the "truth of long hidden mysteries"; Gerald Flurry's book, Malachi's Message, was claimed to be the "little book" mentioned in Revelation and was "revealed by an angel" to him; Mary Baker Eddy (founder of Christian Science) made special claim for her Key to Science and Health"; Joseph Smith (Mormons) did the same with the "golden plates" which he claimed he found, and with his Book of Mormon. These are only a few out of thousands who have added (or taken) from the Word of God. They all teach similar things and they all are known as false teachers and/or false prophets. 

What did the Apostle Paul say about this?

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8).

Many of the doctrines Herbert Armstrong taught as "truths" were known as heresies in the early history of the church. One can read the documents from the early church fathers online to see this and how they tirelessly defended the truth of the gospel against these false teachers whose aim was to subvert the Word of God and draw off followers after themselves. (These subjects are also covered in our critical review of Mystery of the Ages and accompanying research articles). Heresies are mentioned in Galatians 5:20 as one of the "works of the flesh." HWA was able to pawn them off as the "restored gospel." 

By subtle and clever twisting of the Scriptures, along with covering up pertinent information, HWA was able to cause others to feel that they were discovering (and proving) these long lost truths on their own (with assistance from him, of course). He helped them in this process through the aid of his booklets, magazines and Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course. All of this was adding to and taking away from the written Word of God. 

Using his knowledge of advertising and propaganda, HWA selected texts out of context and gave them his interpretation, which in many cases was demonic reasonings. He even studied Hitler's Mein Kampf as a guide in controlling people. To understand the step by step process regarding how Herbert Armstrong set innocent people up to be drawn into his exclusive organization, be sure and read: How Did Herbert W. Armstrong Recruit People? Anyone who did not understand how deception, mind control and propaganda work can be susceptible to the deceit and exploitation of these controlling groups. It was not only the weak who were susceptible. HWA drew in many from all walks of life through persuasive techniques of fear, confusion, control of information, and manipulation of guilt feelings. Once in his organization most were afraid to question, doubt, or even entertain the thought of leaving. It is the use of such methods that causes such groups to be known as destructive Bible-based cults.

It is very difficult for anyone to give up "truths" that have been programmed into their mind unless they understand how thought reform works. In the case of those who left WCG and went into a high demand splinter group, they have been doubly programmed (or re-programmed). They feel they have "proved" everything they believe. No matter how much is shown to them about HWA's hypocrisy, lies, false prophecies, extravagant lifestyle, arrogance, abuses, etc., they hold on tightly to the belief that these "truths" were simply what have been around since the first century of the Christian church. However, doing some research on these subjects shows otherwise.

HWA not only plagiarized from others, but he added his own twist to for his eclectic doctrines. In other words, some of what he taught was simply a result of his own fertile imagination and which cannot be proved Biblically. For instance, his teaching that there are three resurrections, and the second one is for those all those who will have their "first chance" at hearing the gospel, is a strange idea which sounds a little like universalism. While it may seem to be an exciting revelation--especially to those who are seeking black and white answers to life--it cannot be found in the Bible. The Bible only shows two resurrections: those who are saved and those who are not. HWA took these out-of-context Scriptures (mainly from the Old Testament, which he most often used) to try and make the Bible say something different than it really did. HWA, as all other false teachers, could make his arguments and reasonings sound enticing and thrilling, especially when he presented them as "mysteries" that the rest of the world (except his church) didn't understand. 

Some exiters admit that Herbert Armstrong was not who he said he was and will readily agree he was a phony, but then they get on a bent to search for the "ultimate truth" or "hidden truth" through other material, either outside true Christianity, or outside religion altogether. It may be New Age philosophies, mysticism, skepticism, or even the occult. Why? Perhaps the real truth of the Bible, which is found in the story of God saving us by His grace by sending His Son to die for our sins (John 3:16), seems too simple for them. They still feel there must be more answers regarding their purpose here on earth and how they can control their destiny. One exiter told us that he had to search in "deep, dark places" to find the truth. Feeling that we have to have "the truth" is something that all totalistic groups put into their members' minds. [All or Nothing Statements (from those who have the truth)] It often can become an addiction to keep reading more and more books and digging deeper and deeper. Religion itself can become an addition.

Other former members will confess HWA was a hypocrite and "far from God," but affirm that he spoke "God's truth," because "truth is truth no matter who preaches it" and "even the Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and 7th-day Adventists¹ have some of God's truth." In other words, God's truth is a potpourri of beliefs that resides in secretive groups that are involved in spiritual, physical, emotional and sexual abuse of their victims; a very difficult re-entry back into society, and a long period of healing to go through after exiting. Does this make any sense whatsoever? What those who hold to this reasoning fail to comprehend is that HWA merely shot down all mainstream beliefs of Christianity for the sole purpose of getting others to distrust everything about Orthodox Christianity, so that he could end up the rich apostle. While there may be certain splinter groups today which do not control or exploit their members, the roots and fruits of these "truths" have become evident for all to see. This is something that is very hard for many exiters to grasp.

"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; ..." (I John 3:7-8).

None of us will never have all the truth about everything in life, because God hasn't given us all the answers. But how much do we really need them? There is no man or church that has all the answers, or all the truth on 100% of everything we might want to know. If they are honest, they will admit this. We should leave the fine points with God and trust that He knows what is best and that in the end He will do what is best because He is good and He is just. Don't let what you do know the Bible says about salvation disturb what you don't know. The only spiritual truth we really need is to know who Jesus was, the reason He came to earth for, and how to receive eternal life that He has so freely offered. Everything in the Bible centers around Christ, not trying to find a certain "true church" or "truth" on something. Truth is not a doctrine, principle, rule or a way of life. It is a person--the Lord Jesus Christ. ("...the truth is in Jesus:" Eph. 4:21) If we could understand more about His deep love for us, we would be satisfied with that alone.

By D. W.
Exit & Support Network™
October 29, 2003
Last updated May 14, 2007

For Christians who want to escape thinking that HWA had "the Truth":
 

We must see that it is Jesus--not a self-proclaimed prophet-- that we must put our loyalties in.  The Bible is about Him--not about "completely knowing" every little jot and tittle of doctrine.  The Bible is not an exhaustive book. It does not answer every single question we have in life, but it does gives us exactly what we need and nothing more.  We must be satisfied with this "limited" but thorough enough knowledge.  This is why HWA was able to make his money.  He sold "black and white answers" to age-old questions that don't have answers.  We have to understand that, and we must get past that in order to grow in the direction the Lord wants us to grow.

I finally had to see that I needed to use orthodox resources to measure HWA's doctrines, and not the other way around. I've tried to show in my review of Mystery of the Ages that HWA was a liar, and his lying was a chronically repeated event. Should we use any of his arguments and reasonings to seek out truth and understanding of the Scriptures? Once I could let go of "having to know all the answers," I finally understood what faith was. I had to stop playing "God" by telling Him what was good, right, and just in my eyes. I encourage other exiters to read the writings of men who are sound in doctrine, having used proper methods of biblical scholarship, to find answers. Just like a bank teller handling money all day can tell the real from the counterfeit. The Bible is not an exhaustive catalog of all religious knowledge. We must shed our Armstrongism belief that unless something is exhaustive in detail it cannot be sufficient as a source of truth. It is obvious that the Bible does not need to be exhaustive to be sufficient as our source of divine truth. Instead, the Bible provides us with what God intends for us to have--nothing more, nothing less. We must rest in the sufficiency of Scripture and stop exhausting ourselves in the pursuit of details.

By Kelly Marshall
Exit & Support Network™ 

Books which are helpful in refuting Herbert Armstrong's doctrinal errors.

My Position in Christ (accepted and secure forever)

Why is it Difficult For Exiters to Question Herbert Armstrong? (by Kelly Marshall)

Biblical Studies

"Spiritual Healing" links

Footnote:

¹ Sexual, physical and spiritual abuses in the 7th Day Adventist Church have been reported. See CEASE for further information and support for victims/survivors. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is considered to be a religious cult and good reasons are given in this offsite article.

Herbert W. Armstrong's Religious Roots (shows that HWA did not receive his teachings from God by revelation)

Herbert W. Armstrong and the Incest

Where Do I Find the "One True Church"?  

My Position in Christ (accepted and secure forever)

Prayers for Freedom From Spiritual Strongholds (very effective in gaining liberation from many strongholds and oppressions due to involvement in any harmful cult or occult practices; includes moral issues) 

Back to Questioning Herbert W. Armstrong (was he who he said he was?)