December 18, 1983  
December 18, 1983 - Brethren & Co-Workers Letter
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Herbert W Armstrong 

HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
PASADENA CALIFORNIA 91123

Pasadena
December 18, 1983

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ:

   Just how serious is the threat of NUCLEAR WAR? And HOW IMMINENT is such unthinkable catastrophe?

   Millions are deeply concerned. More than 100 million Americans watched the televised movie The Day After on November 20. But half — probably most of the viewers — turned off at the end of the movie and did not stay tuned for the discussion that immediately followed. This discussion was not an argument, but a sobering discussion between a number of important men who have been involved as advisers to presidents on national foreign policy — especially in regard to possible nuclear war. This discussion panel included the Secretary of State, a former secretary of state, a former secretary of defense, a lieutenant general who has advised presidents on military matters, and others of similar importance in evaluating the nuclear danger.

   That discussion was seriously significant. The discussion subject was primarily: "IS THERE TIME TO PREVENT this erasure of all humanity — this rendering extinct the entire human race?"

   Not one of these experts had any solution. They were simply a group of bewildered men. They were pretty well agreed on some things: if a madman even of a smaller nation started a small NUCLEAR ATTACK ON ANOTHER SMALL NATION, IT WOULD START A CHAIN REACTION — THERE COULD BE NO STOPPING UNTIL ALL MANKIND WAS BLASTED OFF THIS EARTH.

   Yet the brunt of the discussion was war between the Soviet Union and the United States. Already three other nations possess the hydrogen bomb and some 30 smaller nations already have nuclear weapons, with capacity for producing the hydrogen bomb, a thousand times more destructive than the atomic bombs that laid waste Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.

   How to stop or prevent a nuclear war from starting? No one had any idea. There has been much discussion about a nuclear "freeze." But that would leave the Soviets ahead of the United States and would prevent nothing. Already the nuclear stockpile is sufficiently enormous to destroy all human life 50 times over.

   But there was one SIGNIFICANT FACT in all this discussion — and in all discussions on TV and the public press since. Men and women are leaving the existence of GOD totally out of their discussions. They are considering ONLY what they as humans THINK they could or could not do — and no ideas of preventing the prophesied coming nuclear war have been advanced. The world's leaders are bewildered — HELPLESS!

   They constantly use the term "I think," "I think." Yet they are unable to think of any solution. They speak as if God is nonexistent — and indeed he is, so far as their thinking on this greatest of all problems facing the world today.

   And yet God says he looks down from heaven, and beholds the nations and all they do. He brings to nothing what the nations plan. God determines the outcome of wars. "The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men....There is no king [ruler of a nation] saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength [military arms]" (notice all of Psalms 33:10-20).

   God made unconditional promises to Abraham of financial, economic and military power, strength and prosperity for Abraham's descendants through Isaac, Jacob and Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh. In Leviticus 26 he promised this to Israel upon obedience. But for disobedience he promised to withhold these national material blessings 2,520 years — which began 721-718 B.C., and the withholding ended A.D. 1800-1803. By 1800 London (Ephraim) had become the financial capital of the world. In 1803 the United States acquired the Louisiana Purchase — the vast Middle West. By the end of World War I Britain and America together possessed more than two thirds of all the cultivated resources and wealth of the entire earth — all other nations barely over a fourth combined.

   But our nations have not obeyed the great God who so lavishly blessed us. We have withheld God's tithe of our individual incomes. We have failed to let our land rest every seventh year. We have polluted his Sabbath every seventh day. Our churches have preached man's own gospel ABOUT Christ, but neglected to preach Jesus' own Gospel of the Kingdom of God, which he preached and sent his apostles out to proclaim to the world. They worship Christ (Mark 7) IN VAIN, teaching the doctrines and traditions of MEN, making the Commandments of God of no effect by their false traditions. Jesus came as the DOOR to lead us to GOD. They virtually ignore God, worship Jesus merely by professing to "accept him." But SIN cuts us off from GOD, and Jesus' death (Romans 5) merely reconciled us to GOD — UPON REPENTANCE.

   This nation has DISOBEYED GOD! God blessed us after 1800-1803. He caused us to WIN the first two world wars. BUT NOW WE HAVE WON OUR LAST WAR! We lost in Vietnam. We are losing in Central America and in Lebanon.

   OUR LEADERS HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD! And now God is deserting our nations!

   But God is pouring out rich blessings upon his CHURCH that is OBEYING HIM!

   In the Bible God says NUCLEAR WAR IS COMING — on our present generation. He sends me to proclaim to the world Christ's true Gospel of the Kingdom — a VOICE CRYING OUT IN THE SPIRITUAL WILDERNESS OF RELIGIOUS CONFUSION! The GREAT TRIBULATION — nuclear war — will come! But for the elect's sake (GOD'S CHURCH), God will cut the nuclear war short BEFORE all mankind is blotted out of existence! Millions and billions will be destroyed — AND SOON! But God will protect us in his Church!

   Brethren and co-workers, these are the most momentous days of earth's history. NOTHING ELSE MATTERS FROM NOW ON! Our ALL should be dedicated to GOD'S USE, to warn as many millions as we may.

   I was interrupted in the midst of writing this letter, by our treasurer, Mr. Leroy Neff. Income has suddenly dropped down during the past six weeks — people apparently are spending money on Xmas gifts for a pagan holiday. I had to make severe cuts in getting the Gospel by TV, radio and The PLAIN TRUTH in black Africa and in ITALY. Italy had suddenly opened to us. I have had to cut TV and the PLAIN TRUTH circulation in half there, and altogether in black Africa. Need I say to you God's Work NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS? — and a GREAT SUDDEN SACRIFICE IN FINANCIAL OFFERINGS? We never solicit the public for contributions. But YOU are co-workers and members with us and with Christ. I pray God to prosper you so you may be able to come quickly to the rescue in a BIG WAY. I do not ask even you brethren often.

With deep love to you, in Jesus' name,

Herbert W. Armstrong

Publication Date: December 18, 1983
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