There was an article compiled by the Editorial Services staff and published for the first time in any Church publication appeared in the August 25, 1986 issue of "The WORLDWIDE NEWS" on page 5. The heading states in large bold print: "God restored these 18 truths: How thankful are you for them?" The following remark by Joseph Tkach served as the lead for this article: "The Editorial Services staff has compiled here, for the first time in any of the Church's publications, 18 essential, basic truths that God restored to His Church through our late Pastor General Herbert W. Armstrong."

The article continues: "In his last book, Mystery of the Ages, the late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote: ‘This Church, until after the year 1933, had lost many ... vital truths. At least 18 basic and essential truths have been restored to the true Church since that year' (page 251, hardcover edition). Mr. Armstrong listed some of these truths in a sermon Dec. 17, 1983. He listed a few others and enumerated them when he spoke to the Ministerial Refreshing Program May 2, 1984. These points are listed basically in the words Mr. Armstrong used when he spoke to the Ministerial Refreshing Program."

Immediately following that statement, the article quotes Herbert Armstrong at that refreshing program forum as having said: "Jesus said, ‘Elias (Elijah) truly shall first come, and restore all things' (Matthew 17:11). Jesus was referring to something that was to happen in the future. John the Baptist had already come, and Jesus didn't even begin His ministry until John had been put in prison. John didn't restore anything. Jesus was referring to another man, not John. Shortly before the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, someone would restore ALL things to the Church. Now, what has been restored to the Church?"

THAT is the question Herbert Armstrong put before the Church in 1984, and that same question is put before the Church today in this article. Only the blind would deny the powerful and extensive work God performed through Herbert Armstrong's ministry. His ministry to the Church and to the world appears without documented parallel since the first century. Indeed, many basic Truths which had been abandoned by the Church over the centuries were restored to the Church by God through his unique ministry.

The Editorial Services staff listed the alleged "18 restored truths" as: 1) The government of God; 2) The Gospel of the Kingdom of God; 3) The purpose of God; 4) Who and what is God?; 5) What is man?; 6) The human spirit in man; 7) The Church is only the first-fruits; 8) The Church is not yet the Kingdom of God; 9) Only those whom God the Father calls and draws to Him can be converted now; 10) The resurrection to judgment; 11) The Millennium; 12) The Holy Spirit coming into us only begets us; 13) We are only begotten now, not yet born again; 14) The identity of modern Israel; 15) Prophecy can only be understood if you know that we are the Israelites; 16) The annual festivals; 17) The authority of the sacred calendar, preserved by the Jews; 18) Second and third tithe."

A caption appears under an accompanying picture of several of HWA'S booklets: "In the last year of his life, Mr. Armstrong finished Mystery of the Ages, his final collection of these essential truths." Yet, when his last literary effort, Mystery of the Ages is considered from the point of view of these avowed 18 restored truths, there seems a degree of anomaly with the two.

A close inspection of the listed [RT#] "18 Restored Truths" reveals a covert agenda, in this writer's estimation. There appears an effort to increase the number of basic truths restored to the Church in an attempt to emphasize the role that Herbert Armstrong was persuaded he fulfilled - that of the "end time Elijah." Many of the "18 restored truths" cannot be isolated as an individual and basic truth in the fashion "The WORLDWIDE NEWS" article purports.

For example, [RT=Restored Truths] RT#1 and RT#2 are inseparable; they are one and the same and cannot be truly understood apart from one another! The Gospel of the Kingdom of God IS the good news of the restoration of God's government! Any other Gospel of the Kingdom is a false gospel. This is redundant and appears only to increase the number of basic truths which had been lost or abandoned by the Church, to maximize Mr. Armstrong's restoration effort.

RT#3 and RT#4 seem to be divided in the same manner. It is not truly possible to grasp Who God is without understanding His purpose: God is a Family that is to be enlarged at the first resurrection of the First- Fruits. To understand God is a Family, requires one to understand the Family Planning method He is using - the Purpose of God. Obviously, RT#7 must be incorporated with these two. To understand there are TWO resurrections to eternal life separated by some thousand years becomes an enigma to anyone without understanding the plan of salvation revealed in RT#1 and #2. Then factor in RT#10, the resurrection to judgment. How can it be understood without understanding RT#7, #one and #two? To further illustrate the point, look at RT#9; Only those whom God the Father calls and draws to Him can be converted NOW. To understand the NOW aspect of this isolated point of truth by the Editorial Services staff, RT#7 - the Church is only the First-Fruits - is required! How many of these can truly be established as a basic truth independent of the others listed?

It is difficult to imagine these Editors actually believed HWA restored RT#11 - the Millennium - to the Church. Are we expected to believe that no one in the Church of God (Seventh Day), or any Protestant church understood there was to be a millennial reign of Christ? Any important elements of understanding regarding the Millennium that were absent from the Church before HWA are absent today, so that was not their point. To say HWA restored the knowledge of the Millennium reign of Christ to the Church appears as an attempt to increase the number of basic truths which had become lost to the Church, to maximize his role as the "end- time Elijah," or both!

The Editorial Services staff made this comment regarding their alleged restored truth: "Before Mr. Armstrong revealed this to the Church of God (Seventh Day), they were confused as to when the year should begin. Mr. Armstrong also made clear the importance of the Jews' preservation of the weekly cycle."

This statement - made in 1986 - was an effort to convince the reader that this is a basic truth restored to the Church through the ministry of Herbert Armstrong. However, their presumption conflicts with reality; it is not true! Consider first the statement: "Mr. Armstrong also made clear the importance of the Jews' preservation of the weekly cycle." This is a blatant attempt to credit Herbert Armstrong with something he did not do, and to falsely emphasize the Jews' role as supreme commanders of the calendar. The Editorial Services staff fabricated their claim to enhance the legacy of HWA. Mr. Armstrong never did any such thing and it was common knowledge that he did not - at the time!

HWA came into association with the Church of God (Seventh Day) with no more understanding of the preservation of the weekly cycle than any other basically disinterested person of the time. It was he who learned of the WEEKLY Sabbath - therefore the weekly cycle - from the Church! From its inception, the Church NEVER lost the knowledge of the weekly cycle, therefore there was no need of such an alleged restoration! Something cannot be restored which was never lost. Even the world at large - through the calendar maintained by the Roman Catholic Church - had maintained the weekly cycle unbroken and independent of the Jews, or their calendar. Rather than rely on these men whose statements are false, it is proper and necessary to let Mr. Armstrong speak for himself.

How did Herbert Armstrong establish that the weekly cycle had never been broken? He wrote, "Has Time Been Lost?" in 1952, beginning his proof by quoting form The Catholic Encyclopedia - not The Jewish Encyclopedia. After quoting The Catholic Encyclopedia, HWA states, "Since the Catholics changed the calendar, the Catholic Encyclopedia is the best historical authority there is on the question, and is proof positive." He further states, "We have a history of the true Church of God through every century from Christ until now. It has always been a SABBATH-KEEPING Church. When men were willing to GIVE THEIR LIVES in order to keep God's commands, do you think they could lose track of the right day?"

HWA used astronomy to prove the sanctity of the weekly cycle by quoting astronomers from Finland, France and Greece as they addressed the League of Nations in 1926: "The government of Finland presented this observation from one of its astronomers: ‘The reform calendar [calendar reform before the League] would break the division of the week, which has been followed for thousands of years, and therefore has been hallowed by immemorial use."; "The government of France presented the following statements from two of its leading astronomers: ‘One essential point is that of the continuity of the week ... a continuity which has existed for so many centuries.' ‘The continuity of the week ... is without doubt the most ancient scientific institution bequeathed to us by antiquity.' "Stated Prof. D. Eginitis, director of the Observatory of Athens, ‘The continuity of the week ... has crossed the centuries, and all known calendars, still intact." The Jewish calendar is glaringly absent from HWA's proof for preservation of the weekly cycle.

Herbert Armstrong had no need to remind the Church of God (Seventh Day) of the "importance of the Jews' preservation of the weekly cycle." This is a fraudulent attempt to maintain the Jews in control over that which they have no control!

Regarding the alleged RT#17 - "The authority of the sacred calendar, preserved by the Jews" - the Editorial Services staff also falsely claimed: "Before Mr. Armstrong revealed this to the Church of God (Seventh Day), they were confused as to when the year should begin." This is a deceptive statement intended to imply that the Church of God (Seventh Day) had no working knowledge of the Jewish calendar and didn't know when to begin the year as instructed in Exodus 12:1-2. "And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you."

Two things should have been apparent to any member of this 1986 Editorial Services staff who had access to the facts but which they chose to ignore: 1) When HWA came into contact with the Church of God (Seventh Day), the Church was observing the Passover according to the time prescribed in Ex. 12:1-2; 2) There was but one lunar-solar calendar extant that was remotely capable of producing the correct time for Passover in 1927. Therefore, HWA did not reveal the Jewish calendar to the Church of God (Seventh Day) as falsely asserted by the Editorial Services staff of 1986!

For a number of years, Herbert and Loma Armstrong observed the annual Holy Days without sanction from the Church of God (Seventh Day). Eventually, some few others began to observe the annual Sabbaths with them, but still apart from official endorsement. HWA was ordained an elder by the Oregon Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day), "at, or very near, the Day of Pentecost, 1931" and continued in a "detached fellowship" with the Church of God (Seventh Day) for a number of years after his resignation of salary in 1933.

According to the records of the Church of God (Seventh Day), "HWA was encouraged by the brethren to present his understanding of the Holy Days to the ministerial body as a whole. This was done at the general conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day) held in Detroit, Michigan." The majority rejected as unscriptural the doctrine that the annual Sabbaths are incumbent on the Church as is the weekly Sabbath.

At an undetermined time in the history of the Church of God, the annual festivals ceased to be officially observed, though a few individuals did keep them. The Church of God (Seventh Day) produced a monthly publication, "The Bible Advocate." In the May, June and July issues of 1913 it carried articles written by G. G. Rupert in support of the observance of the Feast Days. Again, in 1916, an article was published by G. W. Sarber which supported the annual Holy Days. However, by 1927 when HWA came into contact with the Church of God (Seventh Day), only Passover - which was held as a New Testament doctrine - was retained. When HWA was introduced to the Church of God (Seventh Day), it was observing the Passover - or Lord's Supper as it had begun to be called by that time - on the 14th day of the first month as mandated by Ex. 12:2 and determined by the Jewish calendar.

After rejection of salary from the Church of God (Seventh Day) and a separate ministry begun, Mr. Armstrong continued to observe the Passover and annual Sabbaths as determined by the Jewish calendar. The Church of God (Seventh Day) continued to observe the Passover, or Lord's Supper, as well. In 1940, there arose a major question in the Radio Church of God regarding the proper date for observing Passover THAT YEAR. An article written by Herbert Armstrong, designed to settle the matter, appeared in the "Good News." It states:

"Because the Catholics and Protestants figure "Easter" a month earlier than the Hebrew calendar sets Passover this year, and because Brother Dodd [Elder C. O. Dodd of the Church of God (Seventh Day)] has published the date March 22 as Passover, while both Stanberry and Salem organizations have published the date as April 21st, many of the brethren are in doubt, and want the facts."

This 1940 "Good News" article establishes that the Church of God (Seventh Day) used the calendar of the Jews to establish Passover in 1940 as it had been doing for many decades. It should be evident that the Church did not begin to keep Passover in 1939! Even though the Church of God (Seventh Day) rejected the Biblical proof presented by HWA that the annual Sabbaths are binding on the Church, it continued to observe Passover as was its custom before HWA came into its fellowship.

In reality, there is no such thing as the 17th restored Truth to the Church of God by HWA. Those who insist it is a mandate from the Eternal to endorse HWA as the "end-time Elijah," or to document the Jewish calendar as God's Sacred Calendar, must do so by rejecting the facts.

Before closing this vital topic, it is important to amplify a discrepancy in the quoted material from the hard cover edition of "Mystery of the Ages" by the Editors of The Worldwide News in 1986. The article states: "In his last book, Mystery of the Ages, the late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote: ‘This Church, until after the year 1933, had lost many ... vital truths. At least 18 basic and essential truths have been restored to the true Church since that year.'"

These Editors quoted from "mystery of the Ages" but failed to quote two important words as if they lacked importance or space did not permit. Realizing few of God's People would ever make a comparison, the Editorial Services staff deliberately misquoted HWA. In his book, HWA actually said: "This Church, until after the year 1933, had lost many OF THESE vital truths."

Since those two words tend to contradict the next sentence, "At least 18 basic and essential truths have been restored to the true Church since that year," it raises the question of whether HWA actually made the statement, or it was added to serve a purpose. It should be remembered that Mr. Armstrong was in the last months of his life at the time, under medication and virtually blind. He dictated this book and was unable to proofread the text. Ironically, this deliberate omission appears under the heading "Partial Truth"! [Page 251 - hard cover edition, page 207 - soft cover edition]

There arises reason to question the integrity of such a statement. In the same article under RT#16, the Editorial Services staff states that Herbert Armstrong didn't fully understand the meaning of the annual festivals until after having kept them for 14 years.

The editors further state, it was not until the Autumn of 1945 after WWII ended that HWA began to see that Tabernacles must be kept away from one's home. Their words suggest, that the Plan of Salvation depicted by these annual festivals was not understood until 1945.

How was HWA able to observe the annual Holy Days prior to 1933 if the Jewish Calendar wasn't restored to the Church until after that time? To have observed the Holy Days prior to 1933 would have required the restoration of the Jewish calendar to the Church - assuming it had ever been lost to the Church - prior to 1933. Therefore, restoration of the Jewish calendar to the Church is not eligible as one of the "restored truths" since they were all restored AFTER 1933!

The facts of history set the Truth in sharp contrast to the manufactured claim of the Editors of The Worldwide News. Their alleged RT#17 is an outright fabrication designed to elevate Herbert Armstrong and, more importantly now that he is no longer with us, to set the Jewish calendar above the Scriptures!

The world is not being judged in this age and can enjoy the luxury of "sticking their head in a hole." The People of God are under judgment and can afford no such luxury but must awaken to the fact that God commands His People to "prove all things." For any member of God's Church to fail to reject the traditions of men - whether they are in the Church of God or in the Jewish community - is to play a potentially deadly game of "spiritual" Russian roulette!